Puneet Varma (Editor)

Talkspace

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Type
  
Private

Area served
  
Worldwide

Founded
  
2012

Industry
  
CEO
  
Oren Frank (2012–)

Founders
  
Oren Frank, Roni Frank

Talkspace httpscdntalkspacecomimagesgeneralnewlogopng

Headquarters
  
New York City, New York, U.S.

Key people
  
Oren Frank (CEO)Dr. Irvin D. Yalom (Advisor)

Services
  
Online therapyUnlimited Messaging Therapy

Profiles

Live interview with talkspace co founder roni frank cheddartv


Talkspace is an online and mobile therapy company based in New York City. It was founded by Oren and Roni Frank in 2012. Talkspace users have access to licensed therapists through the website or mobile app on iOS and Android.

Contents

Talkspace is advised by Irvin D. Yalom, Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at Stanford University, and Dr. Andrew Sekel, Ph.D. Linda Sacco, LCSW, Ph.D, was hired on in 2016 as the Vice President of Behavioral Health.

I24 news interview with talkspace co founder roni frank


History

Oren and Roni Frank co-founded Talkspace in 2012 after an experience with couples counseling helped save their marriage. Roni Frank previously worked as a software developer before choosing to pursue a master's degree in psychoanalysis and psychotherapy.

In May 2014 Talkspace raised $3.5 million in a seed round of financing from investors that include Spark Capital, SoftBank and Metamorphic Ventures. Talkspace raised another $9.5M in Series A funding from Spark Capital and SoftBank in May 2015.

Services

Talkspace introduced Unlimited Messaging Therapy in 2014, offering users unlimited text messaging with a therapist on the Talkspace website or mobile app.

In February 2015 the therapy platform was extended to include couples therapy.

In September 2015 Talkspace launched “Social Media Dependency Therapy,” a 12-week program that addresses mental health issues related to social media use.

As of October 2015, clients and therapists can also send audio and video messages on the platform.

As of July 2016, users and licensed therapists can use real-time voice and video calls during therapy sessions for its Unlimited Messaging Therapy™ and LiveTalk Online Therapy™ programs. Talkspace's Live Video programs are powered by Agora.io, a provider of HIPAA compliant video services.

Criticism

Psychologist Todd Essig has criticized Talkspace for conflicting business and clinical interests, making scientific claims about its effectiveness, violating patient confidentiality, and other issues. In December, 2016, Cat Ferguson from the verge.com published an article on Talkspace delineating its faulty practices, lack of regard for patient safety and confidentiality, among many other disturbing claims from both past and current Talkspace therapists. Oren Frank, Talkspace CEO, refused to comment or clarify various Talkspace policies.

References

Talkspace Wikipedia


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