Find Licensed Online Therapists for Children and Teens
Browse licensed online therapists for children and teens. Therapy Expanded helps you compare providers by age group, state, specialty, insurance, therapy modality, language, and more so you can find support that fits your family’s needs. If your child may attend sessions from more than one state, use the States Licensed In filter to narrow your search.
Traveling, Moving, or Living in More Than One State?
If you may attend sessions from more than one state, it is important to make sure your provider can legally work with you wherever you are physically located during the appointment. See our guide to finding a therapist licensed in multiple states for more information.
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What To Know About Online Child and Teen Therapy
Online child and teen therapy is mental health support delivered through secure telehealth platforms for children, adolescents, and their families. It gives young people a chance to work with a licensed mental health provider from home, while also making it easier for families to fit care into busy schedules.
Therapy for children and teens is different from therapy for adults. Younger children often need sessions that are more interactive, visual, or play-based, while teens may benefit from a mix of conversation, coping tools, and space to talk through emotions, identity, friendships, family stress, or school pressure. In many cases, parents or caregivers are part of the process too, whether through intake sessions, progress check-ins, or coaching around what to do at home.
Online child and teen therapy may help with anxiety, depression, emotional regulation, school stress, behavior concerns, ADHD-related challenges, friendship struggles, grief, trauma, family changes, self-esteem, and major life transitions. Some families seek support because their child seems overwhelmed, withdrawn, irritable, or stuck. Others are looking for help early, before patterns become more disruptive.
For many families, telehealth makes care more accessible. It can reduce travel time, make after-school appointments easier, and expand access to providers beyond your immediate area. At the same time, online therapy is not the right fit for every child or teen. Some young people do better in person, and situations involving immediate safety concerns, severe crisis, or no private space at home may call for a different kind of support.
How Does Online Child and Teen Therapy Work?
Online child and teen therapy usually starts with finding a provider who offers telehealth and works with the age group you need support for. Many directory profiles list specialties, age ranges, therapy style, fees, insurance information, and availability so families can compare options before reaching out.
Once you book, you will typically complete intake forms and share information about the child or teen’s history, current concerns, family context, and goals for care. Some providers begin with a parent or caregiver consultation before meeting with the child or teen. Others may include both the young person and caregiver in the first session, then adjust from there based on age and treatment needs.
During online sessions, the format often depends on developmental stage. With younger children, therapy may include games, drawing, visual tools, movement, or parent coaching adapted for telehealth. With teens, sessions may feel more like traditional talk therapy, with room to explore emotions, relationships, school stress, identity, and coping strategies in a supportive setting.
As therapy continues, sessions may happen weekly or biweekly, and parent involvement may remain part of the process. For teens especially, providers usually balance privacy with communication, so the teen has space to speak openly while parents stay informed about goals, patterns, and any important safety concerns. Like in-person care, online child and teen therapy works best when there is consistency, trust, and collaboration between the provider, the young person, and the family.
How to Find the Right Online Therapist for Children and Teens
Finding the right online provider starts with the basics. Make sure they offer telehealth, work with children or teens in your child’s age group, and are licensed to provide care where your child will be located during sessions. Beyond that, look for experience with the specific concerns you want support with, whether that is anxiety, behavior issues, school stress, trauma, emotional regulation, depression, or family transitions.
It also helps to look closely at how the provider works. Some child and teen therapists are warm, playful, and highly interactive. Others are more structured and skills-based. Some focus heavily on parent coaching, while others work more directly with the child or teen. Reading the provider’s profile can help you get a sense of whether their style feels like a good match for your child’s personality and your family’s needs.
Practical fit matters too. Look at session cost, insurance acceptance, after-school or evening availability, cancellation policies, and how parent communication is handled. If your child is younger, you may want a provider who is comfortable guiding caregivers. If you are looking for support for a teen, you may want someone who understands how to build trust while still keeping parents appropriately involved.
When available, a consultation can be especially helpful. Ask what online therapy with kids or teens typically looks like, how they involve parents, how they handle privacy, and what kinds of concerns they most often treat. The right provider should feel experienced, approachable, and able to create a space where both the young person and the family feel supported. A good directory makes that search easier by helping families compare providers and find care that fits real life.
Online Child and Teen Therapy FAQs
What is online child and teen therapy?
Online child and teen therapy is counseling delivered remotely through telehealth for children, adolescents, and sometimes their caregivers. Sessions are usually held by video and are adapted to the young person’s age, needs, and goals.
What can online child and teen therapy help with?
It may help with anxiety, depression, school stress, emotional regulation, behavior concerns, grief, trauma, social struggles, family changes, self-esteem, and other mental health or developmental challenges. Some families also use therapy to improve communication and reduce tension at home.
Is online therapy effective for children and teens?
For many children and teens, yes—research suggests online therapy can be as effective as in-person therapy, especially for structured, evidence-based treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and approaches that involve parents or caregivers. A 2025 meta-analysis of 12 randomized controlled trials found that videoconference-delivered psychotherapy was equally effective as in-person treatment for reducing children’s symptoms and functional impairment, although the authors noted that the overall evidence base is still relatively limited.
What does a typical online therapy session look like?
That depends on the child’s age and the therapist’s approach. Younger children may use games, drawing, stories, or activities during sessions. Teens often have more conversation-based sessions focused on stress, emotions, relationships, and coping tools. Some sessions may include parents or caregivers, while others may not.
How involved are parents or caregivers in the process?
Parent involvement varies based on the child’s age, goals, and the provider’s style. With younger children, caregivers are often more involved and may receive coaching or join parts of sessions. With teens, parents may have periodic check-ins while the teen has more private time with the therapist.
Will my child or teen have privacy in therapy?
Usually, yes, but privacy looks different depending on age and safety needs. Providers often explain early on what will stay private, what may be shared with parents, and what must be discussed if there are safety concerns. For teens, therapy often works best when they have some space to talk openly while parents still stay informed in appropriate ways.
Will my child or teen still feel a real connection with their therapist online?
Yes, many do. A strong therapeutic connection is built through trust, consistency, empathy, and feeling understood, not just by being in the same room. Online therapy can still feel warm, personal, and engaging when the provider is a good fit and knows how to connect with young people through telehealth.
What if my child is shy, distracted, or does not want to talk at first?
That is very common. Many children and teens need time to warm up, especially in a new setting. A skilled child or teen therapist will know how to pace the process, build rapport gradually, and use age-appropriate strategies to help the young person feel more comfortable and engaged over time.
How much does online child and teen therapy cost, and can I use insurance?
The cost can vary by provider, session length, credentials, and location. Some providers are private pay only, while others accept insurance or offer sliding-scale rates. It is a good idea to review the provider’s profile and confirm both the fee and insurance details before scheduling.
When is online child and teen therapy not the right choice?
Online therapy may not be the best fit when there are immediate safety concerns, severe crisis symptoms, no private space for sessions, or needs that require more intensive in-person support. In those situations, in-person therapy, a higher level of care, or local crisis resources may be more appropriate. If you or your child are in immediate danger or need urgent help, contact local emergency services or call the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8 right away.