Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow Online Therapy WorksTypes of Therapy Offered OnlineHow Online Therapy Is DifferentPros and Cons of Online TherapyConditions Treated By Online TherapyA Word From Verywell

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

How Online Therapy Works

Types of Therapy Offered Online

How Online Therapy Is Different

Pros and Cons of Online Therapy

Conditions Treated By Online Therapy

A Word From Verywell

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When most people think of online therapy, they likely imagine adults talking to a therapist via their smartphone or laptop. But online therapy can be used with children too.

Before you sign your child up for online therapy, however, it’s important to understand how it works and to learn the potential risks and benefits of online therapy as compared to in-person treatment.

Should Your Child Be In Therapy?

There are many licensed mental health professionals who treat children and teens online. For the most part, children can receive a similar level of treatment online that they receive at in-person appointments.

Online therapy appointments may take place via video, live chat, phone, or messaging. Most therapy sessions can be conducted via a smartphone, tablet, or computer.

The rules about parental permission for children vary depending on the state and licensing organization. So while some states may require that parents give permission for kids to attend online therapy, other states may allow a teen to sign up without parental knowledge.

Some online therapy companies, such asLittle Otter, cater specifically to children, while others, likeTeladoc, include children and teens in their general online therapy services.

If parents are involved, the therapist may request parental input into the problem that the child is experiencing. They may also interview the parents about the child’s history and any family history of mental illness.

After an initial assessment, the therapist will discuss treatment options and recommendations, as well as rules of confidentiality.

Confidentiality in Children’s TherapyIt is important to understand that confidentiality with children is tricky. For example, in clinical practice with adults, a therapist is only required to break confidentiality when the client is a threat to themselves or others, if there is evidence of child or elder abuse or neglect, or if there is a court order. This is true of both in-person and online therapy. However, minors are technically not allowed to give consent to treatment - this comes from parents or guardians, who are therefore legally allowed to be privy to the content of their child’s sessions.But this calls ethics into question, because even though the parent is the one giving consent, the child is the client, and therapists have an ethical responsibility to provide confidentiality to their clients. This might mean choosing to keep certain information that the child has shared with the therapist private.Ask any potential therapist for your child about their policies regarding sharing confidential information with the parent or guardian.

Confidentiality in Children’s Therapy

It is important to understand that confidentiality with children is tricky. For example, in clinical practice with adults, a therapist is only required to break confidentiality when the client is a threat to themselves or others, if there is evidence of child or elder abuse or neglect, or if there is a court order. This is true of both in-person and online therapy. However, minors are technically not allowed to give consent to treatment - this comes from parents or guardians, who are therefore legally allowed to be privy to the content of their child’s sessions.But this calls ethics into question, because even though the parent is the one giving consent, the child is the client, and therapists have an ethical responsibility to provide confidentiality to their clients. This might mean choosing to keep certain information that the child has shared with the therapist private.Ask any potential therapist for your child about their policies regarding sharing confidential information with the parent or guardian.

It is important to understand that confidentiality with children is tricky. For example, in clinical practice with adults, a therapist is only required to break confidentiality when the client is a threat to themselves or others, if there is evidence of child or elder abuse or neglect, or if there is a court order. This is true of both in-person and online therapy. However, minors are technically not allowed to give consent to treatment - this comes from parents or guardians, who are therefore legally allowed to be privy to the content of their child’s sessions.

But this calls ethics into question, because even though the parent is the one giving consent, the child is the client, and therapists have an ethical responsibility to provide confidentiality to their clients. This might mean choosing to keep certain information that the child has shared with the therapist private.

Ask any potential therapist for your child about their policies regarding sharing confidential information with the parent or guardian.

A Verywell Report: Americans Find Strength in Online Therapy

The most popular online therapy modality iscognitive behavioral therapy. It’s a treatment that involves helping individuals identify and change unhelpful thoughts and destructive behavior, and it is very easy to practice via online therapy because it is a kind of talk therapy focusing on the here and now and active problem-solving. This also makes it very accessible to kids and teens because it does not involve delving into their past or doing much emotional heavy-lifting.

Research shows online cognitive behavioral therapy can be just as effective as in-person therapy in children. It’s often used to treatanxietyanddepression, but it can be used to treat a variety of other conditions as well.

Online counseling may also involve supportive counseling where the therapist provides emotional support. It might incorporate problem-solving therapy into the treatment as well, where the therapist assists a child in looking for solutions to a specific problem, such as friendship troubles.

Some forms of therapy cannot be done online.Play therapy, for example, is usually conducted in person with a child. It involves using a variety of toys (like a dollhouse) to express emotions and act out scenarios.

Sand tray therapytends to be conducted in person as well. It involves a tray of sand with a variety of figurines available. Children (or adults) are asked to arrange the sand tray any way they want—and the therapist may interpret the scenes or help them make sense of their creations.

What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and How Does It Work?

Children may communicate with the therapist in a variety of different ways. While some online therapy sites and plans allow for unlimited messaging, others requirevideo chats.

Depending on your child’s age, needs, and preferences, you may be able to allow your child to communicate with the therapist in a way that best suits them. For example, for teens who have grown up with texting, they might prefer to communicate with their therapist via text message.

While some people fear online therapy may be too impersonal, others report they open up more when they aren’t sitting across from a therapist in the same room. Similarly, while some children may struggle to make a connection, others might be able to connect more with an online therapist.

Online therapists with appropriate credentials, such aspsychologistsandlicensed clinical social workers, can provide mental health diagnoses. While some parents might prefer to avoid labels, it is important for there to be an understanding of the diagnosis in order to provide the most effective treatment. In addition, insurance companies might not cover mental health services unless there is a diagnosis.

Online Therapy Services for Kids and Families, Tried and Tested

As with anything, there are pros and cons to choosing online therapy services for your child rather than in-person therapy.

The Pros

The Cons

Is Your Child Dealing With Stress?

Online therapy may be an option for a variety of conditions. For example,Teen Counseling, a popular online therapy site for teens, reports that its therapists help teachcoping skills, reduce anxiety, decreasestress, improveself-esteem, reduce depression, addressbullying,manage anger, and treateating disordersand other mental challenges.

Much of the research regarding online therapy for children focuses ondepressionandanxiety. But online therapists often treat a variety of mental health issues and offer other preventative services as well.

Some online therapy sites offer psychiatry services as well. Apsychiatristis a physician who specializes in mental health treatment and is able to prescribe medication. This could be helpful to parents who are interested in helping a child manage their symptoms with medication.

What Conditions Does Online Therapy Treat?

If you’re concerned about your child’s mental health, or you have some concerns about their mood and behavior, it may be important to consult with a professional. You might find that an online therapist meets your needs.

There are many different online therapy services that differ in terms of price and communication options. With a little research, you can find the one that is best suited to your child.

Get Help NowWe’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.

Get Help Now

We’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.

1 SourceVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Stasiak K, Fleming T, Lucassen MF, Shepherd MJ, Whittaker R, Merry SN.Computer-Based and Online Therapy for Depression and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology. 2016;26(3):235-245. doi:10.1089/cap.2015.0029

1 Source

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Stasiak K, Fleming T, Lucassen MF, Shepherd MJ, Whittaker R, Merry SN.Computer-Based and Online Therapy for Depression and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology. 2016;26(3):235-245. doi:10.1089/cap.2015.0029

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Stasiak K, Fleming T, Lucassen MF, Shepherd MJ, Whittaker R, Merry SN.Computer-Based and Online Therapy for Depression and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology. 2016;26(3):235-245. doi:10.1089/cap.2015.0029

Hannah Owens, LMSW

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