Virtual Teen Therapy

In group therapy, a teen will log on and enter a virtual session with both a licensed mental health professional and a group of peers. Everyone will take turns speaking as directed, and a therapist will lead the session with prompts, skill-building activities, or something else, just like they would in person.

In individual virtual therapy sessions, a teen will meet with a licensed mental health professional one-on-one over a video call. The therapy session will be identical to an in-person individual therapy session. The content of the session will reflect the therapeutic modality used (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy or motivational interviewing) and what the teen is working on. For example, anxiety, depression, body image, trauma, or grief. 

In family therapy, a teen and their parents will log on and enter a virtual session with a mental health professional. The teen and their parents will most often be in the same location, but sometimes, teens and parents do not live together and will connect separately. Like in group therapy, the therapist will lead a session. They may ask questions, give you and your teen time to update them on what has happened since the last session, conduct therapy exercises, or bring up a discussion topic to work on.

Medication may be necessary to fully address a teen’s mental health needs in some cases. In virtual medication management questions, a teen will meet with their psychiatrist to discuss potential treatments, get refills, and go through the process of starting, stopping, or changing medications if it is ever needed. A psychiatrist is a doctorate-level provider who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. While they fill a different role from that of a therapist, they will work closely with the rest of your teen’s treatment team. 

Evaluations are used so that professionals can accurately diagnose or screen for mental health conditions and concerns. They can also help teenagers monitor their progress, set goals, and identify areas of need throughout treatment. Usually, evaluations consist of a set of verbal or written questions. 

Mindfulness activities, career and wellness counseling, and other services may be included in a teen’s treatment program when applicable. These give teens an opportunity to learn, grow, and develop critical life skills that’ll aid their long-term success.