Ginger Emotional Support

Ginger.io, Inc.

About this app

-- About Ginger --
Ginger offers on-demand, confidential emotional and mental health support through live text-based coaching, video-based therapy and psychiatry, and self-care resources — all from the privacy of your smartphone.

-- What does it cost? --
Select employers and organizations offer Ginger, including unlimited behavioral health coaching, at no cost to their employees, members, and their dependents. Depending on your organization’s plan, you may have a limited number of therapy and psychiatry sessions covered, after which you would be responsible for the cost of the session not covered by your insurance. Depending on your health plan, the cost for accessing coaching, therapy, and psychiatry services through Ginger may vary depending on your specific benefit plan. Please contact your benefits administrator for more information.

-- About our behavioral health coaches --
Ginger coaches are trained professionals with an advanced degree and/or coaching certification. Ginger coaches have at least two years of professional work experience and undergo an additional 200+ hours of specialized training every year. Coaches are full-time employees of Ginger, and yes, they’re real people.

-- How does coaching work? --
Coaches provide support through real-time, text-based conversations in the app, so you can easily and privately chat with your coach any time, anywhere. Coaches are available on-demand for immediate support and through regularly scheduled sessions. We know texting isn’t easy for everyone, which is why we also offer a speech-to-text option. Coaches also help you get the right level of care and can direct you to a Ginger therapist or psychiatrist if you need extra support.

-- Therapy and psychiatry --
When more support is needed, video-based sessions with a licensed therapist and/or psychiatrist are available, with evening and weekend hours. If you feel therapy and psychiatry may be helpful, please reach out to a coach who can help you with the next steps.

-- Self-guided resources --
Our in-app library of skill-building resources includes activities, podcasts, videos, articles, and more. New recommendations are suggested based on your needs and can help you with a range of topics, such as anxiety, stress, relationships, and career challenges.

-- Available in Spanish --
Ginger is available in Spanish for individuals who are age 18 and older and have access through their employer or organization. Ginger in Spanish will be available soon for all health plan members.

-- Confidential and secure --
Conversations between you and your care team are confidential. Ginger is HIPAA and EU GDPR compliant and HITRUST CSF certified.

-- Get started --
If you have access through your employer, download the app and tap “My Organization,” and follow the steps. If you have access through your Health Plan, you may have received an email from Ginger with a unique code. Simply download the app, tap “Enter an Access Code,” then enter the code from the Ginger email and follow the steps.

Ratings and reviews

Good concept but people you text take forever to text back and you are limited to 20 mins per unscheduled session. In my first attempt, I asked a question and the coach didn't respond in over minutes. At that rate, if you need help, and reach out, they basically write back 4 times and that's it. Doesn't feel helpful at all, and to probably get better support you need to preschedule in advance with a coach that you are working with. Definitely unimpressed.

App is a little buggy at times: no notification when there's a new message, it notifies me but there ISN'T a new message, slow load, app doesn't function the way you'd expect out of a messaging app (no time stamp, no option to copy and paste the entire block, etc.). ALSO FOR THE LOVE OF GOD MAKE A WEB INTERFACE SO I CAN TYPE ON A KEYBOARD. Otherwise, the coaches have been extremely helpful; each has a different style. I can honestly say my life has improved since using this service.

I was recommended Ginger as a substitute for in-person therapy as my options locally were booked for months. My insurance (Kaiser) covers a certain amount of video sessions. The app itself is buggy at times & does not work well on iPad (I use my android phone instead). The coaches and customer service chats have been solid, though, and the therapist I see has been great. You do have the option to request a new coach/therapist at any time. Overall, my experience is good, technical issues aside.

What's new

Thanks for using Ginger! This update includes some bug fixes and under the hood improvements.

Members like you keep us inspired to find new ways to improve the Ginger experience. If you have any questions or feedback, send us a note at [e-mail]