Best Online Therapy for Kids

Thriveworks has a mission to “help people live happy and successful lives.” Although its is not yet available in all 50 states, it is expanding quickly and offers both telehealth and in-person services.

Thriveworks allows clients to choose their therapist, but the company also offers support and help to ensure you are matched with someone who is a good fit for your needs. In addition, those who want to consider medication as part of their treatment plan can receive psychiatry services directly through Thriveworks and do not need an extra referral.

According to its website, Thriveworks is designed to create the best possible experience for clients, including client comfort, satisfaction, treatment outcomes, and customer service. Scheduling is flexible, and live support is available 24 hours a day. The company also offers a money-back guarantee if a client determines after the first session that Thriveworks is not right for them.

In addition to therapy services, Thriveworks has a mobile app called Therapy Buddy, which offers additional support and resources through a password-protected platform.

Sixty-eight percent of the 105 users we surveyed said the process of finding a therapist was good to great at Thriveworks. Fifty-two percent felt they would still be seeing their therapist in six months. And 90% of users said they had had a good to excellent overall experience.

Thriveworks’s website indicates that your cost depends on your location and method of payment. However, clients who do not use insurance reportedly pay “as low as $99 a session.” The map on the website allows you to check costs based on your specific location, though some locations do not list pricing when you view them.

Users pay $39 a month for membership, which allows for contact with a therapist in between sessions (however, many therapists allow clients to contact them in between sessions without charging a membership fee).

While it does not offer free trials or consultations, Talkiatry offers a free assessment that helps you determine what your treatment needs are. 

Talkiatry is not a subscription service—it is a psychiatric practice—so rather than paying a monthly rate for access to the platform, you’ll just pay for the sessions your child attends. Because Talkiatry is in-network with the biggest insurance providers (including Medicaid and Medicare Part B), your final cost will likely be reduced to the relevant copay(s).

However, the website does not list the self-pay rates for sessions with its clinicians, and the company did not provide any in its responses to our questionnaire, so services through Talkiatry could be expensive if you are uninsured. Still, 77% of current clients who responded to our survey reported finding Talkiatry to be a very good or excellent value.

In 2016, research found that 4.4 million American teens had been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, and 1.9 million had been diagnosed with depression, both of which tended to peak in severity during the 12 to 17 age range. Children and adolescents alike need access to competent care from qualified professionals—like those at Doctor on Demand.

Doctor on Demand was founded in 2013 and has both a website and an app that you can use to access services. Providers specialize in many aspects of mental health, including working with teens.

Not everyone needs or wants to use medication to treat their mental health, but many experience symptom relief through medication. Doctor on Demand allows users to get therapy and medication management in the same place, as well as ongoing access to general practitioners.

The website offers quick and easy sign-up; since there is no subscription, you do not have to pay until you use a specific service. Teens can use Doctor on Demand from any device and from anywhere. Sessions are available seven days a week.

When you sign up, you get access to profiles of various Doctor on Demand therapists. You and your teen can choose the provider whose training, treatment approach, and personality seem to be a good fit. You can change therapists if the first provider with whom your child matches is not a good fit.

Of the users we surveyed, 91% of users said the therapist qualifications were good to excellent. Seventy-nine percent of users would recommend Doctor on Demand to a friend or relative. Seventy-five percent of users had an overall good to excellent experience with the online therapy platform.

Doctor on Demand accepts many insurance plans, so most clients will not have to pay the full cost of the service out of pocket. It does not offer a sliding scale or discounts, though, so if you pay out of pocket, the cost will be:

• Therapy: $129 per 25-minute session, $179 per 50-minute session
• Initial psychiatric consultation: $299
• Follow-up psychiatric visits: $129 each

Parents and guardians can sign up their children as young as age 10 for therapy with Amwell. Amwell’s platform allows families to make accounts, with each member accessing their own sub-account. This allows the child or teen to have individual sessions and communication with their therapist, and the family account allows for joint sessions with the parent or guardian as needed.

Amwell’s platform is HIPAA-compliant, but if a client sees multiple providers, they can authorize their treatment team to communicate for care coordination. If a client feels that medication might be an important part of their treatment plan, they can easily get a referral within the platform. Amwell employs licensed therapists with a variety of schedules and availability, so kids can access after-school or weekend appointments that fit their schedule.

In addition, Amwell’s providers have special training in issues including anxiety and depression, using evidence-based therapeutic approaches to treat both of these conditions. Urgent care services are available as well. Although your specific therapist might not be available for a last-minute appointment, another provider can address any immediate concerns that come up.

Eighty-six percent of Amwell users surveyed felt their therapist met all their needs. Eighty-eight percent of users had an overall good to excellent experience using Amwell. Fifty-three percent of users said they would still be seeing their therapist in six months.

Amwell’s therapy sessions cost $109 with master's-level providers and $129 with doctoral-level providers. This is lower than the national average for session costs. In addition, Amwell accepts Employee Assistance Programs and most insurance plans.

Teladoc has been offering online therapy and medical appointments since 2002, making it one of the oldest telehealth providers in the United States. The platform also employs prescribers, so if your child requires medication management in addition to therapy, they can receive both services through the same platform. Providers can communicate with each other to ensure that the client’s unique needs are met. 

Teladoc is in-network with most insurance plans, and you can choose your therapist, so you do not have to worry that a therapist who is a good fit for your child’s needs will be out of network. You and your child can read through specializations together and you can give them a choice in their treatment, which increases engagement.

The site has an abundant section of free resources about physical and mental health, including articles, webinars, and testimonials. It does not specify how much information will be shared with you (the parent or guardian) about your teen’s therapy sessions, as this is at the discretion of the individual provider. Since each family has unique needs, specific confidentiality limits may vary, so a specific policy for the entire company may not fit some clients’ needs.

Eighty percent of users surveyed said their therapist at Teladoc met their needs. Ninety-seven percent of users rated their experience as good to excellent. Eighty-six percent of users said they would recommend Teladoc to friends and family.

Your out-of-pocket cost for therapy will vary depending on your insurance plan. Teladoc’s therapy is $99 per session for anyone not using insurance. Psychiatric care is $299 for the initial consultation and $199 for a follow-up visit.

Equip was created by psychologists who experienced eating disorders in childhood. The company aims to help children with eating disorders receive care through telehealth. It is currently available across the U.S.

Equip uses tools from different therapy orientations, including cognitive-behavioral and dialectical behavioral therapy. Their program is based on family-based treatment, which has extensive literature showing its effectiveness in treating eating disorders.

Clients with Equip meet with a care team including a therapist, physician, peer mentor, family mentor, and dietitian to ensure that the unique mental and physical health needs faced by people with eating disorders are individually addressed. Equip also provides monitoring and ongoing information to ensure that clients who require a higher level of care, such as hospitalization, have these needs met.

Equip does not list pricing information on its website. However, the founders have stated that they work with insurance companies to ensure that the services provided by Equip are covered. A representative for the company stated that they are currently credentialed with most major health insurance providers. They are not presently able to accept Medicaid but are in the process of getting approval to offer this.

The company representative states that patients paying out-of-pocket are priced on a sliding scale based on each client’s means and needs.

When signing up for Wellnite, you complete a free consultation during which you and an onboarding specialist discuss your treatment needs to ensure that you receive appropriate care. During this call, you can ask about insurance coverage and sliding scale options to ensure that Wellnite’s services are within your means. 

When it was founded in 2019, Wellnite specialized in treating depression and anxiety in adults. However, it has grown to serve individuals 13 and older with other mental health concerns—such as eating disorders, grief, family dysfunction, and friendship/relationship problems—primarily using CBT and mindfulness techniques.

Wellnite’s website includes comprehensive information about the services offered, presenting concerns addressed, and populations served with education about how users can benefit from therapy. This freely available information helps you and your child decide whether therapy services are a good fit for their needs.

Sign-up is easy, and you choose how often you want to be seen and whether you are seeking therapy, medication management, or both. You can purchase additional sessions each month if needed. After you sign up, you get to choose your therapist, increasing the likelihood that your child will connect with their provider.

This specialization in “friend issues'' therapy is unique to Wellnite. According to founder Paulo Gonzalez, clients “can bring a friend to therapy and work out their relationship with a neutral and arbitrary professional.” Gonzalez says that sometimes when an individual seeks therapy, issues related to friends or family arise, and they can bring that individual to a session to work through it.

Many teens and preteens experience bullying and friendship conflicts, and it can be difficult to find support that directly addresses these concerns. Wellnite’s added specializations give users a unique opportunity to process these issues in a safe environment.

Seventy-five percent of the users we surveyed felt Wellnite met most or all of their needs.Seventy-two percent of users would recommend Wellnite to friends and family. Eighty percent of users said they had an overall good to excellent experience using Wellnite.

Two therapy plans are listed on Wellnite’s website, with different resources and services available:

• Medical care + therapy: This plan is $245 per month and includes same-day doctor consultations, therapy, and medication management.
• Therapy: This plan is $450 per month and includes being matched with a specific therapist for up to six monthly sessions.

In addition, Wellnite offers discounts and promotional codes, which can reduce the cost of care. Sliding scale options are also available.

Everyone, but especially young people, needs support when they’re exploring their identities. Luckily, Kip Therapy employs highly trained therapists who specialize in a myriad of conditions and presenting concerns and who work with adolescents and adults.

Minority stress and oppression can be risk factors for mental health issues and substance use for folks who are LGBTQIA+ and/or BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color). That’s why Kip places an emphasis on cultural competency and ensuring that therapists are trained to work effectively with different populations. 

Kip’s therapists specialize in mental health concerns including anxiety, depression, trauma, and life changes. They can also delve into secondary mental health issues due to bullying or mistreatment stress.

Kip’s website has resources including webinars and blog entries that anyone can use to learn more about mental health and identity work.

The website has easy-to-follow steps for signing up for treatment. You can have sessions via telephone, video, or in-person at Kip's New York City office. 

Privacy is essential in building and maintaining therapeutic relationships, especially for preteens and teens who might not have the expectation of confidentiality in other parts of their lives. Kip requires that parents sign a privacy agreement that spells out exactly what information will be shared with parents or guardians. These guidelines are as follows:

• Guardians are not permitted to ask about specific details of what is discussed in therapy sessions.
• Guardians are given general updates about progress and can participate in sessions on an as-needed basis.
• Therapists will inform guardians about safety concerns, including suicidal ideation, intent to harm others, or high-risk behaviors.

Spelling out these expectations prior to starting treatment keeps the therapist, client, and guardian on the same page regarding what can be expected in sessions.

LGBTQIA+ people of all ages might worry when seeking therapy services that their new clinicians will not be competent or accepting of their identities. Still, Kip’s clinicians are trained to ensure that the therapy space is safe, comfortable, and affirming for all.

Seventy percent of Kip therapy users surveyed said their provider met most or all their needs. Fifty-four percent of users said they would recommend Kip to friends and family. Seventy-three percent of our surveyed users rated their overall experience with Kip as good to excellent.

Kip Therapy offers a variety of pricing options per session based on which therapist you choose. Those tiered options are:

• Tier I: "Emerging therapist” or intern, $65-$95
• Tier II: “Resident fellow” or postdoctoral resident, $130-$150
• Tier III: “Senior clinician” or licensed therapist, $170-$225

Kip Therapy does not accept insurance but will create a superbill that allows clients to seek reimbursement from their insurance provider. Tier I therapists are not eligible for reimbursement, however.

Little Otter was developed to offer telehealth services for young children, who are often overlooked by other telehealth organizations. It works with children from birth through age 14 and provides individual therapy for children when appropriate as well as parent coaching, therapy for parents, and family therapy services.

Taking a family approach to a child’s mental health treatment is important because children respond to stress in the home, and parents are often unsure about what choices to make to help their child.

Little Otter also offers assessments and reports to provide clear, specific information about presenting concerns and best practices for treatment. Psychiatric care is also available.

Users can complete a free informational call to determine whether Little Otter is the right fit for their family. After sign-up, families receive access to digital worksheets, resources, and educational materials that can supplement their care. They can access their care team via text at any time.

Sixty-five percent of the users we surveyed were satisfied with the therapist options provided. Overall, 75% of survey respondents had a positive experience with Little Otter, rating its services as good to excellent, while 70% said that most or all of their needs were met.

When parents sign up for Little Otter, they pay a $90 fee for a welcome session and for start-up. Little Otter does not offer memberships or subscriptions with recurring payments. Sessions are $200 each. Psychiatry services are $500 for an initial evaluation and $250 for a 30-minute follow-up appointment.

In addition, Little Otter offers the following bundles, which allow for discounted session rates when purchased in advance:

• Assessment bundle: $540 for a 90-minute assessment and one therapy session
• Session bundle: $2,040 for 12 sessions

However, you cannot receive a refund for unused sessions if you discontinue treatment before the bundle is fully used. This could be a concern, as clients have the right to end treatment at any time without consequence, and clients or parents might feel that they need to finish out the bundle.

Little Otter is out of network for all clients except those with Kaiser Permanente, but it offers superbills for reimbursement.

Mental Health Match is a directory of over 4,000 therapists serving all 50 states and Washington, D.C. It provides an algorithm that matches users to therapists who are likely to be a good fit and have the qualifications the individual is seeking. Although other directories have match services available, Mental Health Match provides instant matches based on the information provided.

When someone has never been to therapy, they might not even know what they are looking for in a therapist. The average person may not know about specific types of therapy or best practices for their treatment. A service that removes the guesswork and offers suggestions and matches simplifies the process. 

Mental Health Match also has the option to browse local therapists, so if your child wants to pick their therapist, they also have this option. Therapists on Mental Health Match accept a variety of insurance providers and payment methods, offer both in-person and telehealth sessions, and specialize in a variety of presenting concerns.

Mental Health Match aims to match any client to a qualified provider and does not specify one population, making them appropriate for anyone who needs help finding the right therapist.

Seventy percent of users rated the overall process of matching with a therapist as good or very good. Fifty-eight percent were satisfied or very satisfied with the therapist options provided in Mental Health Match’s directory. Sixty-one percent of users surveyed rated the therapist diversity offered within the directory as good to very good.

Mental Health Match is free to use for those seeking therapy. Rates are dependent on the therapist.