Best Sites for Online Therapy for Teens
We write our honest reviews but this page may contain affiliate links, with some of the partners mentioned, to support this website. Read more here
Being a teenager is natural. You are supposed to start behaving like an adult, but you might not be handled as one. Adolescence is a remarkable development in our lives. Hormones are overflowing, and we feel more connected and close to friends than family. No wonder so many teenagers are stressed and nervous.
Getting to know who you are is a lifelong process. Many teenagers find a friendly family system to retain positive mental health as they move through all these transformations.
However, many parents ask if online therapy is useful for teenagers. There is some scientific proof that talking to a licensed mental health professional could be quite helpful for teens.
If you are a parent or a teen, read on to learn more about online therapy for teens.
How We Calculate Score
Our rating system assigns brand scores on a scale of up to 5. To arrive at these scores, we use a weighted formula that considers TrustPilot ratings, User Engagement scores, and our staff’s experience with the platforms.
BetterHelp
Ratings-
Easy to Use
-
Personalized Service
-
Confidential
-
Text, Video or voice session
-
Licensed therapists
Grow Therapy
Ratings-
Easy to Use
-
A lot of Insurance Coverage
-
Affordable
-
Online or in-person therapy
-
Licensed therapists
Online-therapy.com
Ratings-
Unlimited messaging
-
8 section CBT program, incl. 25 worksheets
-
Daily worksheet replies Mon-Fri
-
Change therapists with one click
-
Secure & confidential platform
TalkSpace
Ratings-
Convenience
-
Personal
-
24/7
-
Confidential
-
Text, Video or voice session
Some of the best Teen Therapy firms:
1. Teen Counseling for Teens
TeenCounseling.com is an incredibly flexible platform where parents can sign up and take part in the process of the counselor assignment. Teens can participate in the sessions through a mobile app, video, and even text. By choosing TeenCounseling you can expect a long line of licensed and experienced psychologists and professional counselors trained to help any teen in their guidance. All of the counselors on the site have been checked for accuracy and pass a series of tests before joining the TeenCounseling team.
Every day, teens navigate through a time of growth and puberty changes, and very often they face stress, anxiety, depression, bullying, anger, and a wide range of similar concerns. TeenCounsuling gives them a safe space where they can privately talk and find ways to cope with their personal struggles.
Parents with teens experiencing the ups and downs of adolescence can easily sign up and provide their children the professional help they need to navigate through these confusing times.
2. TalkSpace Online Therapy
Constantly nurturing your mental health should always be a number one priority. Whether you’re going through big life challenges, emotional difficulties, or any kind of mental health concerns – therapy can improve the symptoms of many mental health conditions.
TalkSpace online therapy for teens can grant you the much-needed professional support, all from the comfort of your home. The therapy platform can provide you with this opportunity through an easy-to-use mobile app that you can get in just a few minutes. With TalkSpace you can put all the worries of your privacy being invaded to the side – the platform is 100% safe, private, and professional.
Getting started on TalkSpace is a breeze. All you have to do is complete a short assessment, choose your plan, and then get matched with a licensed therapist best suited for your needs. If at any time you feel that the match isn’t working, switching to a different therapist is seamless and free.
Therapy is not only a necessity for many people – but also a self-investment for a better and healthier lifestyle.
3. Pride Counseling for teens
During the early adolescent stages, teens often face questions about their identity and sexuality. This can be a very challenging experience that can result in the development of unhealthy coping mechanisms for many teenagers. From anxiety and depression to different disorders, navigating through these challenges in therapy is the safest manner. (Read about LGBTQA+ counseling tips here, for more in-depth resources)
Pride Counseling strives to create a safe space, where teens can talk through their concerns in an open-minded and empathic environment, accompanied by trainer professionals. With thousands of hours of experience, Pride Counseling will match your teen with a counselor that can best help them navigate through these challenging times. By conducting a short questionnaire, the platform makes sure there is a suitable match between the counselor and the teen. All counselors working at Pride Counseling are specialized in all LGBTQA+ issues.
If you’re a parent of an LGBTQA+ teenager, Pride Counseling is an effective choice that will likely help your child in their trying times. The platform supports all genders, identities, and orientations.
4. BetterHelp for Teens
If you’re struggling with your mental health, there is a way to work through this in an effective and efficient manner. BetterHelp is a highly-acclaimed online therapy service, that allows you to go through this process by phone, chat sessions, or video.
Mental health issues make it difficult for us to go through day-to-day goals, create fulfilling relationships, and overall they affect our well-being. BetterHelp is the best-of-the-best online therapy service with a wide range of 4,000+ therapists trained to help you work on your personal struggles. Building a strong rapport between counselors and clients is of the utmost importance in therapy, and BetterHelp is a leader in this field.
Their mission is to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient – opening their doors for couples and individuals of all ages. You can take part in the sessions through the easy-to-use BetterHelp mobile app. Another benefit is the feature that allows you to conduct and store your sessions, which you can later on revisit.
With scientific backing, proven positive results, and flexibility – this online therapy service is the best choice for anyone looking to work through their mental health struggles.
5. Online-Therapy for Teens
Online-Therapy works with the approach of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBL). This approach will help you identify your dysfunctional thoughts, behaviors, and emotions, and through the help of professionally trained therapists, you’ll be able to challenge and overcome them. Online-Therapy stands out amongst other online therapy services with this approach.
The platform and its program are well structured and designed to provide clients with full comfort and a safe environment where they can work on their mental health. You also have the option of live chat sessions where you can additionally discuss your weekly activity plan, assignments, or anything that you’re going through. Online-Therapy is web-based and you can access it and start your healing journey from anywhere in the world.
You’ll also have access to SMS and live chat sessions where you can discuss your weekly activity plan, any of the assignments, and any difficulties you’ve been having. It’s a holistic approach that really sees results.
What is Online Therapy for Teens?
Online therapy may be labeled other names, such as e-therapy, or online therapy. As the name suggests, online therapy encourages patients to meet a counselor remotely, as opposed to a face-to-face appointment in the workplace.
A therapist may interact through a text message, mobile app, email, or website. Some counselors prefer video chat. Some only use text to connect. Online therapy can be used alongside conventional treatment or as an option.
Online therapy is a place where a certified online therapist can help teenagers aged 13-19. Also, online treatment provides affordable, confidential, adequate guidance through a computer, laptop, or mobile. Many teens may benefit from consulting a qualified therapist to address problems such as coping strategies, anxiety, tension, self-esteem, depression, bullying, aggression, eating disorders, or other behavioral difficulties.
Studies also found that teenagers appear to be responsive to computer-based counseling through smartphone devices, email, and video chat. However, technical limitations and problems of the apps may create discomfort and frustration.
Who Is It For?
It can be challenging to discern the difference between typical teenage anxiety and more severe problems. If you are a parent, witnessing your child experience adolescence can feel like a significant shift. Many teenagers change their hairstyles, have piercings, tattoos, or even start trying alcohol or drugs. There is so much that comes within the context of healthy teen maturity.
However, if you encounter unexpected mental changes that sometimes seem out of control, such as dropping grades in school, unhealthy eating and sleeping practices, social anxiety, suicidal feelings, self-harm tendencies, or other impulsive dangerous activities, you should schedule a meeting with a counselor.
There is a phase where typical teenage stress factors become challenging to cope with. If you feel like your parents don’t listen to your issues, don’t understand your needs and don’t know what else to do, it is time to seek professional treatment from a teen therapist.
When is the Right Time to Start
There are many forms of mental health services. In this regard, teenagers and families need therapy for many various reasons. Sometimes, recommending therapy for a teenager is comparatively small, and families are just trying to cope with some temporary discomfort.
Here are a few reasons teens should initiate therapy:
- Depression, including social anxiety, stress, and future concerns
- Feeling overwhelmed in the age of social media
- Problems of intimacy and friendship
- Parent-adolescent tensions
- Self-esteem and identity concerns
Benefits
There are many reasons to recommend online therapy for your teenager as opposed to conventional therapy.
- Teenagers feel more confident in the digital world. Most teens enjoy having online conversations. Therefore, computer therapy can feel a lot more convenient than face-to-face therapy.
- Online therapy is more beneficial and time-saving. For teenagers residing in remote areas or those without transportation, online appointments may provide better access.
- There are less shame and blame. Some teenagers are reluctant to meet a therapist and maybe worried their parents may figure out they are in therapy. Virtual consultation can reduce many problems.
- Online therapy is more cost-effective. It may be lower than in-person therapy, making it more accessible and affordable for most families.
Messages
Phone calls
Video Chats
Online vs In-Person
Even though your teen is pleased with online therapy doesn’t mean it is a good idea. It would help if you scrutinized potential prospects and advantages.
Before attempting online therapy for your teen, ask the following questions about your provider.
Is the counselor certified?
Even though someone claims he is offering online therapy sessions doesn’t mean he is an accredited mental health professional. Many people act as mental health providers, but they are not authorized. Life coaching, online trainers or advisors may lack appropriate experience and education.
Is e-therapy the right approach?
Online therapy doesn’t fit all situations. If your adolescent acts in unsafe behavior, such as drug use, or shows feelings of depression or self-harm, therapy in-person is more acceptable.
How will information be kept confidential?
Mental health professionals must keep information private and confidential. Therefore, it is essential to ask what methods are in place to ensure your teen’s private information can’t be breached.
What are the payment terms?
Online practitioners set their payment options. Others require patients to pay a monthly fee for free emails, while others perform hourly-paid video sessions. Be sure you figure out how to pay before you undergo therapy.
The lack of face-to-face contact can interfere with treatment. Professionals of mental health learn a lot by looking at someone’s body language. If your teen communicates via email, the therapist cannot read the body language or hear the intonations in the voice of your teen. Although video contact may be more accessible, it can never replace in-person therapy.
How Does It Work?
You can interact with your therapist in three different ways: text-based messaging, audio, or video. It may all be all three, depending on your chosen subscription! You can apply multiple ways at different times, depending on your needs, accessibility, and convenience. You can bring up anything with your counselor. Online therapy is a comfortable place to discuss what is troubling you, or just what is fresh in your life. Nothing is too small, as long as it encourages you to achieve your therapy goals.
How to Choose the Best Online Therapist
In any therapy experience, professionalism and credentials are very crucial. This is especially the case in online treatment for teens. Don’t judge a therapist by the number of letters that are mentioned after their name because many letters indicate accreditations, which are extremely easy to obtain or may show qualifications that don’t relate to your situation.
Research shows that the connection between the therapist and the client is the most critical component of effective therapy. In this respect, the counselor should first ensure that they have professional experience in the areas on which they want to specialize. When agreed, make sure that you are comfortable and that you can open up and be honest with your counselor. You may need to reach more than one counselor before you find the right one, but this is important and worth the effort.
Look for Reviews and Final Thoughts
As you evaluate the therapist website, take considerable time reviewing previous patients. Online therapy comments can give a general picture and more clarity about your possible future therapist.
Keep in mind that disappointed customers are more likely to make critical declarations. Don’t strictly judge the therapist by another person, as every patient has different requirements.
Critical aspects must be taken into account to seek the right online therapy provider, such as service reliability, confidentiality policies, work experience for the contractor, areas of expertise, availability, and payment choices.
Feelings and adolescence can be overwhelming for both teenagers and adults. Online therapy for teens may be an effective way of helping the whole family through this transitional period. You can learn to control your feelings, develop self-confidence, and enhance your mental health through online therapy.