Virtual Therapy for Children & Teens: What Parents Should Know

Over the past several years, virtual therapy has become a more widely used and accepted option for mental health care. For many families, telehealth offers increased access, flexibility, and consistency, particularly during winter months or periods of disruption. Still, parents often have questions about whether virtual therapy is truly effective for children and adolescents and how to know if it is the right fit.

Understanding how virtual therapy works, what it can support, and where its limitations may be can help families make informed decisions.

What Virtual Therapy Looks Like

Virtual therapy sessions are conducted through secure, HIPAA-compliant platforms and are structured similarly to in-person appointments. Depending on a child’s age and needs, sessions may include conversation, skills-based interventions, guided activities, or parent check-ins.

For younger children, therapists may use visual tools, structured activities, or parent involvement to support engagement. For adolescents, virtual therapy often mirrors in-person work more closely, with an emphasis on conversation, emotional processing, and skills development.

Sessions are tailored to be developmentally appropriate, and therapists continually assess whether the format is supporting meaningful engagement and progress.

What Concerns Are Well-Suited for Virtual Therapy

Virtual therapy can be effective for a wide range of concerns, including:

• Anxiety and stress-related difficulties

• Mood changes or depressive symptoms

• Emotional regulation challenges

• Executive functioning and organizational skills

• Adjustment to life transitions

• Parent consultation and coaching

For many children and teens, the familiarity of being at home can actually reduce anxiety and make it easier to open up during sessions.

When Virtual Therapy May Be More Challenging

While virtual therapy works well for many families, it is not always the best fit for every situation. Challenges may arise when:

• A child has difficulty attending to screens

• Privacy is limited at home

• A child requires more intensive behavioral or sensory support

• Safety concerns require in-person monitoring

In these cases, in-person therapy or a blended approach may be more appropriate. A thoughtful intake process can help determine what level of care and format will be most supportive.

How Parents Can Support Successful Virtual Therapy

Parents play an important role in helping virtual therapy succeed. Helpful supports include:

• Creating a quiet, private space for sessions

• Ensuring consistent scheduling and routine

• Assisting younger children with logging in

• Respecting session privacy, particularly for adolescents

For many families, treating virtual therapy with the same structure and importance as an in-person appointment helps children take the process seriously.

Virtual vs. In-Person Therapy: How to Decide

Choosing between virtual and in-person therapy is not always an either-or decision. Some families begin virtually and transition to in-person care, while others find that telehealth remains the best long-term option.

Factors to consider include a child’s developmental stage, comfort level, presenting concerns, and practical considerations such as transportation and scheduling. A clinician can help families think through these factors collaboratively.

Making an Informed Choice

Virtual therapy has expanded access to care for many children and adolescents, particularly during times when in-person services may be harder to access. When thoughtfully implemented, it can be a meaningful and effective form of support.