Chris Mckillop offers online counseling with BetterHelp which is a sponsor of OpenCounseling. We may earn a commission when you follow links to sponsored providers Learn more.
BetterHelp offers financial aid based on your income. The discount is between 10% and 40%. To apply, complete the initial sign-up process, then click on the "Apply for financial aid" link. The financial aid questionnaire asks some basic questions about your income and will give you instant feedback if you qualify for a discounted rate. The process is quick and easy. To apply for financial aid, start by creating your profile here.
When you first click through to BetterHelp, you'll be asked to answer questions about yourself and what you're looking for in therapy. These questions are designed to make sure your therapist is a good match for you. They're also designed to determine if there is a reason you should consider in-person care instead of online therapy. (For example, BetterHelp recommends that people who are in suicidal or in mental health crisis seek immediate help, then follow up with in-person therapy.) You'll then be asked to set up a profile with an email address and password. You should set aside about 20 minutes for the sign-up process.
We can be skeptical by nature, but when we tested BetterHelp we were pleasantly surprised with the effectiveness of the therapy we received through their platform. We chose BetterHelp as an affiliate sponsor of OpenCounseling precisely because we felt they offered a good service. But while our experience was positive, we should say that each person is unique and the treatment you receive will depend on you and the specific therapist you work with. Check out our review of BetterHelp here to learn more about why we recommend it. You can read the full details of our affiliate relationship here.
Jan 03, 2021 by K.I.
I was nervous about my first session, not knowing where to start or how to go into my issues, but he made it easy. It’s almost like talking to a friend, but one who is qualified to give you the right kind of advice or to guide you to helping yourself when you are having a tough time.
Jan 02, 2021 by H.A.
Chris is a great counselor who reaches out to those he counsels on a regular basis even if they are not as responsive as he is. Even though you may feel like there is not much to talk about or say, Chris really helps you open up more to identifying your emotions. I would very much recommend Chris as a mentor.
Nov 18, 2020 by M.E.
Chris is the model for being nonjudgmental, which in my experience, is an uncommon trait for counselors. Working with Chris after having harmful counseling experiences is a breath of fresh air.
Nov 16, 2020 by J.E.
Very thorough and a great communicator.
Nov 12, 2020 by R.A.
Chris has been incredibly helpful. He has introduced me to lots of helpful tools and thought stopping methods to help combat what I have been working through. I feel so much better thanks to his help and expertise. I wish I had tried Better Help sooner, it has been exactly what I needed.
Oct 28, 2020 by M.I.
He's been very helpful through this trying time in my life.
Oct 23, 2020 by D.A.
He message me to make sure I am doing okay! It makes me feel like someone cares and ready to listen!
Sep 23, 2020 by V.I.
Great job!
Sep 07, 2020 by K.I.
Like many people, I was unsure about online counseling. I wasn’t sure about the process and level of counselors. Luckily, I was paired with Chris McKillop. He spends time reading my messages and is able to identify the root issues I’m struggling with. For the first time, I feel understood. I’m glad I signed up.
Aug 28, 2020 by S.A.
Chris has varied knowledge in many subjects and has been able to help me not only with my gender journey but also in day to day life. I have really enjoyed how many resources and tools Chris has given me.
Aug 17, 2020 by J.O.
We just started working together not too long ago, but Chris has been wonderful so far. Very attentive and understanding!
Aug 10, 2020 by D.E.
Chris has been wonderful to work with. He listens and provides constructive feedback. It has been very helpful for me. I've tried speaking with many other counselors over the years and he is one of the best I've worked with.
Aug 07, 2020 by C.L.
Chris is calm, wise, and a fantastic listener. He makes me feel heard and understood. He also has great advice when I ask for it. He’s clearly very experienced with a wide range of people, and he’s very understanding.
Jul 31, 2020 by T.Y.
Chris is always quick to respond and help me reach conclusions for problems I may be having without pushing me a certain way. He gives me tools and insight to get to my own natural conclusion and I really appreciate that.
Jul 19, 2020 by M.A.
This has been a tremendous experience. I’m so glad I chose to the do this. I would definitely recommend this to everyone.
Jul 18, 2020 by K.Y.
It hasn't been long, but Chris has already helped me tremendously. I highly recommend him to anyone. I always look forward to our conversations. I can only imagine how much he's going to be able to help me in the continuing with him.
Jun 26, 2020 by B.R.
Working with Chris is awesome! I like how he said things I hadn't thought about that helped me cope with my struggles.
Jun 06, 2020 by A.N.
Chris is a knowledgeable and patient counselor that makes you feel safe to discuss anything you're dealing with. He's responsive and has a flexible schedule.
Jun 06, 2020 by J.O.
Chris was very helpful.
Jun 03, 2020 by H.E.
He’s so trusting and very knowledgeable. I was hesitant of a male counselor at first but I am very pleased with his abilities. Thank you!
Jun 01, 2020 by B.I.
I have completed over three weeks of therapy with Chris and it has been great. When I took the therapist questionnaire for my pairing, I hesitated at "Would you like a male or female therapist?" As a female, I was thinking "well a female may understand me more, but a male perspective would be nice on my marriage questions." So I left it to the universe to pick the gender my therapist. I was sort of hesitant going into my first meeting with Chris, but as I started talking, he not only understood my perspective, but also was able to help me think through problems from a different lens. He sends me resources to help in-between sessions. The worksheets have helped me identify areas of improvement/understanding. I also like how he uses his personal experiences as examples. It makes me feel more human and that I am not alone in my issues. I highly recommend Chris!
May 31, 2020 by R.E.
Chris' responses, both through messaging and our video sessions, make me feel like he's really hearing what I'm saying, and that means a lot. I'm not good at opening up to people most of the time, but his apparent understanding of and/or empathy for what I'm going through makes it easier to share.
May 27, 2020 by M.A.
Chris goes at my pace and helps me apply logic to intense emotion. We have had two sessions together and I will continue on because he has given me renewed faith in the therapeutic process.
May 27, 2020 by A.L.
I found Chris' advice very helpful. It gave me a different perspective on what was going on in my own mind. It's ever so helpful to bounce things off of someone who is not your own family! Thank you Chris.
May 22, 2020 by R.A.
Very informed, observant and understanding!
May 19, 2020 by B.A.
Chris has been helping me a lot over the past couple of weeks, he really understands what I’m saying and places my scattered thoughts into coherent reasonings as to why I’m feeling what I am. I’m very thankful I got him as my therapist when I signed up!
May 19, 2020 by T.R.
Chris is responsive and supportive, able to acknowledge my current situation and help me develop clarity. A excellent counselor, highly recommend!
May 15, 2020 by E.L.
Chris is supportive and kind but also challenges your assertions in a productive way. I have grown through our conversations and highly recommend him.
May 07, 2020 by M.E.
Chris has been very helpful so far. I like the way he gives reasons and words to my anxious thinking and helps me process things.
Nov 20, 2019 by A.L.
Although I didn't know what to expect from counseling, I am happy I was matched with Chris. I'm very pleased with how he approaches my problems & concerns without being overwhelming or trying to tackle everything at once. He's thoughtful, and an active listener with helpful insight. He has challenged me to recognize areas of improvement and is keeping me accountable by setting goals for the future. Chris is very approachable (and accessible) and seems like he truly cares.
Nov 17, 2019 by A.N.
Chris is a wonderful and insightful professional. He’s been indispensable to me as I navigate some challenging situations with my aging parents.
Sep 27, 2019 by N.I.
I really appreciate Chris's insight on the things that we discuss. I prefer the text functionality because I've found it easier to discuss things that I'd be uncomfortable saying face to face. The worksheets are very helpful for me to organize my thoughts and explain topics that I'm unfamiliar with. Chris is very responsive and his explanations are clear and understandable.
Sep 26, 2019 by D.O.
Chris does a great job of taking who I am and applying the concepts to that perspective. The conversations feel natural. Sometimes, he will go a little long-winded, but I do that too, so not a big deal.