5 Ways For Teens To Access Online Therapy: Talk, Text, & More

The teen-focused arm of Betterhelp is geared toward helping those between the ages of 13 and 19. Like Betterhelp, it doesn't accept insurance and instead prides itself on providing affordable mental health care even for those without insurance. With more than 13,000 therapists to choose from, this is the easiest option for those looking for a specific certification or area of expertise in a medical practitioner. 

All of the therapists are licensed, and through an initial assessment the site will match you with pros who specialize in bullying, eating disorders, relationships, anger, and other concerns. It also provides separate private meeting rooms for parents and teens that allow the parents to check in while still giving the teen autonomy. They also provide 24/7 support and offer messaging options.

Cost: $60 to $90 per week

Teens can choose between phone, video, or text-based communication with their therapist—and even a combination of all three with certain plans. Text-based plans even let teens describe the way they're feeling with emojis, which has proven to be an effective and creative way for kids to express their feelings. 

This service specializes in teens ages 13 through 17 and even offers a comprehensive guide on their site that offers up conversation starters for sessions. Talkspace does accept insurance and offers therapists in every single state, which can make the insurance billing process easier.

Cost: $65 per week

It's harder to find online services for kids below 13 years old; however, Amwell offers providers for those as young as 10 years old. It offers both therapists and psychiatrists, which is great if your child needs medication management. 

The service also accepts a huge range of insurance plans, which you can input before selecting your therapist. This ensures any selected medical practitioners are within your network and prevents any complications with billing. Unlike other services, Amwell only offers live video chats, which can be a turn-off for some patients who want 24/7 connection.

Cost: $109 for therapist with a master's; $129 for therapist with a Ph.D.

While the entry fee of $299 is a little steep, follow-up visits come in at $129—which is still cheaper than many traditional in-office appointments. Before officially signing up, you can do a free two-minute assessment, which helps you and your child better determine the ideal course of care (and whether the service is the right fit). The company also offers doctors with quite a few different specialties, including anxiety, depression, stress, and PTSD. Plus, the company makes it easy to share medical records, which can come in handy when it comes to evaluating different kinds of medications or treatment plans. 

Before matching your child with a medical practitioner, Doctor on Demand narrows its pool of therapists based on your location and needs. You'll then have full control to work with your teen to choose a therapist. If they're not feeling a connection—remember finding a therapist can be a complex process—it's easy for them to decline a follow-up and try someone new.

Cost: 45-minute initial assessments with a psychiatrist for medication management are $299

This service offers a range of options when it comes to teen support, including sessions with trained listeners, more traditional therapy sessions, and support rooms with other teens. The latter could act similar to group therapy, which is a type of therapy best suited for those who need interpersonal support or a sounding board to better understand themselves.

In fact, the most unique feature about this service is that they allow teens to talk with other teens. These chat rooms are monitored for safety, and the site also keeps track of the number of messages exchanged with other listeners so that it can provide little milestone messages. In addition to group support, 7 Cups offers mindfulness exercises, videos, worksheets, and even playlists that are intended to promote self-care.

Cost: Free