Each month, millions of people visit Zocdoc.com or use our free mobile app to search for quality healthcare providers. This means that every minute, patients are telling us with their clicks what they want when it comes to their mental health care.

The pandemic led to a sharp rise in mental health-related issues, with patients increasingly looking for virtual mental healthcare providers. To help address this gap, Talkiatry was founded in 2020 by a triple-board-certified psychiatrist and a mental health advocate. Today, the national, virtual mental health practice offers in-network psychiatry and therapy with over 300 expert providers serving patients in 43 markets and counting.

Every year, 60% of adults in the U.S. with a diagnosable mental illness go untreated because care is inaccessible, while 45% of clinicians are out-of-network with insurers due to low reimbursement rates and unduly burdensome paperwork requirements. Talkiatry aims to solve these challenges with innovative technology and a human-centered philosophy. With millions of patients actively searching for new providers on Zocdoc, Talkiatry joined the platform in March 2020. This enabled them to connect with new patients and address their needs.

Here are 5 ways Talkiatry is transforming the patient experience:

1. Virtual mental health care is accessible.

Patients overwhelmingly want to be able to see mental health providers virtually. In fact, for mental health visits booked on Zocdoc in 2023, nearly 9 out of 10 were virtual. While Americans have never needed psychiatric care more than they do today, it’s incredibly hard to find it. 75% of U.S. counties have severe psychiatrist shortages and 55% have no psychiatrists. Talkiatry is primed to close this gap and Zocdoc helps patients find in-network appointments with them.

2. Personalization is present.

Ever since Covid, the healthcare industry’s focus has been on expanding virtual care access. While that’s certainly important (see the first point above), what is overlooked is ensuring that they’re also receiving quality care that’s individually tailored. When patients get started with Talkiatry, they take an online assessment and are typically matched with 3 or more psychiatrists that best fit their clinical needs and unique preferences. Patients then select the provider with whom they’d like to move forward. Reading verified reviews on Zocdoc from patients who have seen providers also helps potential new patients find the best fit.

3. Patients can see providers without long waits.

The pandemic led to a sharp rise in mental health-related issues, yet there are still long waits to see providers. Talkiatry prides itself on near-term availability: patients can see providers in days. Having a platform like Zocdoc, which shows up-to-date availability and allows patients to book appointments 24/7 (48% of all appointments on Zocdoc are booked after hours when the office is typically closed), further ensures patients’ needs are met.

4. Appointments don’t feel rushed.

It’s important that patients feel they have ample time during visits and can build quality therapeutic relationships with their providers. First visits with Talkiatry are a full 60 minutes, and follow-ups are typically 30 minutes. What’s more, Talkiatry has full-time, in-network therapists on staff. These therapists see patients who are also being seen by a psychiatrist, so the two clinicians can collaborate on care.

5. Vulnerable populations are supported.

According to Talkiatry, there’s an urgent need to provide mental health support for children and adolescents, a highly vulnerable population that often gets overlooked. Early intervention, when mental health conditions are less acute, is critical for decreasing more severe downstream health outcomes. Yet young people and their families remain hampered by a severe shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists. This issue is compounded in rural communities, where 65% of non-metropolitan counties report an overall lack of psychiatrists.

In 2023, Talkiatry expanded its child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP) services to 31 states, reaching up to 58 million patients under 18 across the country. Talkiatry is on the front lines of the youth mental health crisis, serving a patient population engulfed by sharply rising anxiety and depression rates.

The surge in mental health issues, both during and post-pandemic, has made virtual mental healthcare access a crucial lifeline. By offering more in-network options, personalizing care and providing near-term appointments that give patients time to talk, Talkiatry stands out in the virtual mental healthcare space. With platforms like Zocdoc, patients can easily find mental healthcare providers that take their insurance and seamlessly book appointments via mobile or desktop at any hour of the day.

Need a doctor? Find one on Zocdoc.

This article was developed in partnership with the provider group highlighted herein.