What Is Online Therapy?
Like the name suggests, online therapy is a term used to describe mental health counseling that you can receive from the comfort of your own home in front of your PC or right at your fingertips on your smartphone. Often referred to as “e-therapy” or “internet therapy,” online therapy isn’t meant for people who are in the midst of a mental health emergency or who need urgent medical care. Instead, it’s a way for people to get easy, convenient, and reliable counseling that tends to be more affordable and more accessible than in-person therapy.
What Is Onlne Therapy for Teens?
Teen online therapy is similar to general online therapy except its counselors work primarily with adolescents and specialize in struggles common to that age. These might include:
Depression
Anxiety
Identity issues
Bullying
Trouble fitting in
Coping with divorce
How Does Online Teen Therapy Work?
In online teen therapy, counselors speak one-on-one with adolescents remotely via video sessions, phone calls, or real-time chat,
Typically, online teen therapy requires parental or guardian permission. Sites may have policies in place that allow parents to consult with their child’s therapists or be alerted in the case of self-harming behavior. It’s a general practice that conversations between the teen and their counselor are kept between the two parties.
Since today’s teens are so adept at technology, many find that online therapy suits them as well if not better than face-to-face counseling. They can send messages to their therapist, conduct sessions from the comfort of their homes, and communicate through their own online portal.
When you sign up for an online therapy service, you’ll typically be asked to take a short quiz to determine which sorts of issues you’re dealing with, which can be used to help the service match you with a counselor who may specialize in your concerns. When you’re seeking out online counseling for your child, the quiz will ask you a lot of questions about what you think the child needs help with, before sending the child an invitation on your behalf.
How Much Does it Cost?
The prices vary by company, but typically online therapy services charge a monthly fee to use the service, and don't charge by minute or hour or text. For instance, BetterHelp, one of the bigger names in the industry, charges a flat fee of between $40-$70 per week, including all messaging, chats, phone, and video sessions.
These memberships tend to be quite flexible, and allow you to quit at any time.
Most online counseling is not covered by insurance, so while it’s cheaper than in-person therapists, you will typically have to pay out of pocket.
How to Choose the Right Online Teen Therapy Service
Before you sign up for an online therapy service, do a little research. Make sure the platform offers counselors who specialize in teen therapy. Take a look at how the company screens its counselors and if their certification checks out. You can also look at online testimonials by customers to get an idea about the quality of service.
You’ll want to decide which types of counseling you and your teen are most comfortable using—chat, video, or email—and if they’re available through the service. If your teen is interested in using the service on their smartphone, see if the company has an app and if your child can have sessions with their counselor by chat on the phone.
Look at the price also, and see if it fits your budget. In addition, see if you can quit the membership at any time, or if it’s binding.