roni frank: they feel more safe. in fact, messaging creates a healthy level of distance. that helps users to get over the shame to open up. heather: for clients requiring more care or even medication, "talk-space" provides referrals to a psychiatrist. advertisement: because your therapist is always with you. heather: for bisson, he continues to see patients at his private practice in holliston. he believes traditional face-to-face methods are still important. bisson: i think creating a relationship when you're looking at someone in the eye and going like this versus like nothing is really essential. heather: but he also sees the benefit to something like "talk-space." bisson: if this is what is going to attract 20% of people who have not reached out otherwise, then i'm all for it. i'm very much for it. shayna: that was heather unruh reporting. bisson's caseload on "talk-space" is growing. around the u.s. doug: the app also offers audio and video access to therapists, right from your smartphone. 8:20. get ready for the best story of the day. we first introduced you to them

roni frank: basically the they're communicating with other people in their lives. it just makes sense to them. heather: the conversations are private, secure, and anonymous. advertisement: so the next time you need to talk to someone, text us. heather: frank says most clients are battling depression, anxiety, or relationship issues. for many, it's the first time they've ever tried counseling. roni frank: they feel more safe. in fact, messaging creates a healthy level of distance. that helps users to get over the shame to open up. heather: for clients requiring more care or even medication, "talk-space" provides referrals to a psychiatrist. advertisement: because your therapist is always with you. heather: for bisson, he continues to see patients at his private practice in holliston. he believes traditional face-to-face methods are still important. bisson: i think creating a relationship when you're looking at someone in the eye and going like this versus like nothing is really essential. benefit to something like "talk-space." bisson: if this is what is going to at

heather: roni frank launched talkspace with her husband in 2012, offering unlimited access to a licensed therapist for $25 a week. for replies, therapists create their own schedule, usually setting aside two or three hours each day. >> they are communicating with the same way they communicate with others in their lives. it makes sense to them. heather: the conversations are private, secure, and anonymous. frank says most clients are battling depression, anxiety, or relationship issues, and for many, it is the first time they >> it helps, and it helps users to get over the shame, to open up. heather: and for clients needing more care or even medication, they provide referrals. and he continues to see patients at his private practice. he believes it is still important. >> and i think that creating a relationship, they are going like this versus nothing. it is really essential. heather: but he also sees the benefit to something like talkspace. >> if this is going to reach the 20% of people who would not reach out for it, then i am for it, very much for it. heather: clearly there is a market