Best Online Therapy for Teens

Best Overall: Teen Counseling

Why We Chose It

We love Teen Counseling because it offers patients multiple ways to get in touch with their therapist, whether it’s during a session or outside standard office hours. Additionally, we like that therapist and teen conversations are kept confidential, but that parents will always be alerted if there is a major concern.

Pros & Cons

Overview 

We ranked Teen Counseling as our best overall option for online therapy for teens because of its versatility, low cost, and balancing of patient confidentiality and parental concern. Users have the option to connect with their therapist over video, call, or live chat sessions, and can safely and securely message their provider 24/7. Additionally, there is a separate space for parents to connect with therapists, which keeps teens’ conversations with their therapists confidential. However, parents can feel assured knowing that if anything concerning comes up in their child’s therapy session, the provider will alert them and collaborate on a plan moving forward. 

The providers at Teen Counseling include psychologists, licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed clinical social workers, and licensed professional therapists. All providers have a master's or doctoral degree and at least three years of professional experience. Areas of treatment include anxiety, depression, stress, bullying, eating disorders, self-esteem, anger, and more. Teen Counseling is designed to work with anyone between 13 and 19 years old and can be accessed from smartphones, tablets, and computers. We do want to point out that BetterHelp (Teen Counseling's parent company) recently came under fire in a Wall Street Journal investigation into online therapy when a therapist recommended to a patient that they “stop being gay” to please their parents. We in no way support this atrocious recommendation and fully support and celebrate the LQBTQIA+ community.

In a survey of 105 users, 84% rated their overall experience with Teen Counseling as good, very good, or excellent. Additionally, on the Teen Counseling website, there are numerous positive reviews from both patients (teens) and parents.

Plans & Pricing

Teen Counseling is a membership platform that charges between $60 and $90 per week, billed every four weeks (totaling $240 to $360 per cycle). It can be canceled at any time. Unlike many online therapy platforms, Teen Counseling does not offer multiple membership tiers or plans. The cost of membership depends on your location, therapist availability, and preferences. Currently, Teen Counseling does not partner with any insurance carriers and will not file claims for reimbursement. Still, it is committed to keeping costs low to minimize out-of-pocket investments.

Best for Psychiatry: Talkiatry

Why We Chose It 

We love Talkiatry for teens seeking psychiatric and medication management services because the platform is easy to navigate, the company partners with all major insurance carriers, and the practice’s focus is on psychiatry, so parents will feel confident their child is not being overprescribed medications.

Pros & Cons

Overview 

While there are numerous online therapy platforms available, there are not many psychiatry platforms that will treat teenagers. Talkiatry is one of the few online psychiatry practices equipped to treat and provide medication management to teens, and it does it so well that we picked it as the best option for teenagers seeking psychiatric services. 

Talkiatry has 37 in-person practice locations and provides online services to patients in 42 states (and is continuing to expand into other states). Currently, it offers diagnosis and treatment for conditions including anxiety, depression, ADHD, PTSD, and other mood disorders. Given that it is primarily a telehealth practice, it does not treat conditions better suited for in-person management, such as substance use, certain personality disorders, and suicidal ideation, among others. 

Patients can join sessions, schedule and manage upcoming appointments, and message their provider using the practice’s app, which is available on any Android or Apple device. Appointments are based on availability, but patients can message their provider anytime through the app. Additionally, patients seen by the practice for psychiatric treatment can schedule therapy sessions with Talkiatry’s therapy providers. However, the company does not offer standalone therapy to anyone who is not also being seen for psychiatry.

Plans & Pricing

Talkiatry is in-network with most major insurance providers and will help you determine your specific benefits and eligibility. There is no membership required to be seen by a provider. Self-pay is an option; however, users will need to contact the practice directly to discuss their situation to find out pricing.

Best for Texting/Messaging: Talkspace for Teens

Why We Chose It 

Talkspace offers therapy for teens and it is our pick for any teenager who prefers texting or messaging to traditional therapy sessions. With this platform, there are no appointments; teens can simply send their therapist text, video, audio, or picture messages whenever they feel like they need to talk. So it’s essentially therapy on their own schedule.

Pros & Cons

Overview 

Meeting with a therapist in a formal setting requires planning and scheduling, and can ultimately end up feeling incredibly awkward. For teenagers who aren’t interested in traditional therapy—but have no problem texting all day, every day—Talkspace is our pick. Unlike other platforms, all therapy through Talkspace for Teens is conducted via messaging rather than in a traditional session. 

To get started, parents need to help their child set up a profile (parental consent is required for every minor using the platform). Then, the teen needs to complete an assessment to help Talkspace for Teens determine their needs and provide them with a list of recommended therapists. Once they select a therapist, they can start messaging in their therapy “room,” which can be accessed via the web or the platform’s app (available on any Android or Apple device). 

Through their therapy room, users can send their therapist text, video, picture, or audio messages, and the therapist will respond. The pair can chat back and forth as needed until the patient feels like they’re in a better mental space. Teens can message their therapist any time of day or night (though the therapist isn’t on call 24/7, so responses aren’t immediate) without waiting for an appointment. Additionally, their therapy room is secure and confidential. The only way a parent can view the conversation between their child and their therapist is if their teen willingly shows them. 

If your teen decides they are interested in traditional online therapy, it is possible to do this through Talkspace, but you’ll have to sign up for a different, more expensive plan.

Plans & Pricing

Talkspace offers a variety of plans, including:

• Messaging therapy: Starts at $69 per week and includes unlimited text, video, and audio messaging with guaranteed therapist responses five days a week
• Live therapy: Starts at $99 per week and includes four live 45-minute sessions per month via live chat, phone, or video call
• Live + messaging therapy: Includes messaging plus four live sessions and starts at $109 per week

Talkspace accepts several insurance plans, including Premera, Cigna, Optum, Gatorcare, Aetna, and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Best for Families: Thriveworks

Why We Chose It

Thriveworks is great for individual therapy, but we especially like it for family therapy due to its flexible scheduling, option for patients to self-pay or file a claim through insurance, and online and in-person therapy offerings.

Pros & Cons

Overview

For families looking for an online therapy platform where they can all attend sessions together, we love Thriveworks. Families have the option to self-pay per session, or Thriveworks will file a claim through in-network insurance plans (and it partners with most major carriers). Patients are matched with a therapist working in their state, and many providers give patients the option to attend sessions online or in person, which is nice for families who aren’t sure whether or not online therapy is right for them. 

To join a video session with a therapist at Thriveworks, all you have to do is click on a secure link, so any device can be used as long as it has a reliable internet connection, a camera, and a microphone. Appointments last between 50 to 60 minutes and can be scheduled online, often within three to five days of requesting the appointment (sometimes same-day appointments are available, too). Additionally, Thriveworks allows families to schedule sessions during evening hours and on weekends, so you can easily work around your teen’s sports or part-time work schedule. 

Thriveworks is available in 49 states and Washington, DC (it is not available in Vermont). In our survey of 105 users, 95% said they found their experience with Thriveworks to be good, very good, or excellent, and 71% said the process of finding a provider through the platform was either easy or very easy.

Plans & Pricing

Thriveworks offers patients the option to self-pay or file a claim through insurance (for in-network plans). It works with most major insurance carriers, including Blue Cross, Anthem, Optum, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Cigna, and Humana, among others (though this can vary by provider). For self-pay patients, sessions start at around $160, depending on your location and the provider you choose, but you won’t be surprised by the price of any session because it is clearly listed on each provider’s bio. There is no free or reduced-rate trial period with Thriveworks.

Best for Phone Therapy: Teladoc

Why We Chose It 

We awarded Teladoc best for phone therapy because it has been working in telemedicine for two decades. While video chatting has evolved greatly during this time, phone therapy hasn’t changed much, which means Teladoc has had plenty of time to perfect this method of treatment.

Pros & Cons

Overview

Teladoc launched in 2002 with the novel (at the time) idea to treat patients over the phone and through video chat, making it a pioneer in the industry of telehealth. Today, the company still offers patients the option to attend sessions over the phone or by video, but since there has not been a tremendous change in phone technology over the last 20 years, it has been able to refine and perfect how it delivers services, which is why we think this is the best option for phone therapy. 

The teen-specific mental health services through Teladoc are designed for anyone between the ages of 13 and 17 years old. To get your teenager set up with a therapist, you’ll need to create an account for yourself first, then add your child as a dependent, set up a profile for them, and fill out and sign intake and consent forms. From there, you and your teen can browse through the various providers available based on where you live and your needs. Every provider on the platform is professionally trained, accredited, and licensed through their state’s professional board. In a survey of 105 users, 86% said it was either easy or very easy to navigate the website and find a therapist. 

Sessions can be accessed via the web or through Teladoc’s app (which can be downloaded onto any Apple or Android device). Even phone calls will be scheduled and set up through the website or app to ensure they are secure. Parents attend the first few minutes of their teenager’s first session to provide verbal consent for their child to be seen, but after that, caregivers are not meant to attend one-on-one therapy sessions. Appointments usually last 45 minutes, and most providers offer flexible scheduling, including evening and weekend hours. One drawback to Teladoc, however, is that, unlike many other online therapy platforms, there doesn’t appear to be an option to regularly text or message your provider outside of sessions. 

Overall, users surveyed were very happy with Teladoc. Ninety percent of people surveyed said their experience with Teladoc was either good or very good, and 87% said they were either likely or very likely to recommend the service to others.

Plans & Pricing

Patients living anywhere in the U.S. can access treatment through Teladoc. They have the option to self-pay or Teladoc will file an insurance claim on their behalf with any in-network provider. Self-pay prices start at $99 per session but may vary based on location and services. Unfortunately, researching self-pay pricing is a bit difficult because Teladoc requires you to create a user profile to learn more about appointment costs.

Best Directory: Open Path Collective

Why We Chose It

Open Path Collective provides members with a huge directory of mental health providers who offer their services at significantly reduced rates compared to most private practices. The platform is easy to navigate and has plenty of therapists and counselors who treat teenagers.

Pros & Cons

Overview

Open Path Collective is a bit different from other mental health platforms in that each provider has their own private practice and simply partners with the platform. That said, it’s not like a standard therapy directory, either, because Open Path Collective only partners with therapists and counselors willing to provide their services at a reduced rate to make therapy accessible and affordable to everyone. 

To take advantage of Open Path Collective’s directory, you’ll need to apply for a membership (which does require a one-time fee). Once you’re accepted, you’ll receive an Open Path Collective ID that you will share with your therapist to alert them that you are part of this reduced-pricing program. 

What we really like about this directory, aside from the pricing, is how easy it is to navigate and find therapists to meet your needs, and there are all kinds of options for teenagers specifically. You can filter options based on specialties and on appointment types, such as in-person, video, and location. When you’ve found a provider who seems like a good match, you’ll follow directions for contacting them directly, as each therapist manages appointment scheduling, payment, and customer contact independently.

Plans & Pricing

In order to access the Open Path Collective directory, users have to pay a $65 lifetime membership fee. All providers in the directory charge between $30 and $70 per session (for individuals), and this price is based on factors including your income, the provider you choose, and your location. The platform is designed to make therapy affordable and accessible to everyone, and while the providers do work with insured patients, they will not accept insurance if the copay is less than $70.

Best for Younger Teens: Little Otter

Why We Chose It 

We love Little Otter for tweens and teens because the platform’s providers specifically work with younger children and adolescents (Little Otter only treats patients through age 14). Additionally, parents can also access therapy and support that is tailored to helping their child.

Pros & Cons

Overview 

There is a huge developmental difference in where teens are at 12 or 13 years old compared to 16 or 17 years old. That’s why we like Little Otter for tweens and early teenagers: Because this platform is designed to help younger kids, the therapists know how to provide care in a developmentally appropriate way. 

Little Otter is different from most other platforms for teens, because it has a “whole family approach,” meaning parents are more involved in the process. First, parents fill out a few forms to get the sign-up process started. Then they participate in an initial welcome call where they speak to a care team member. The team member asks about what is going on with the child, what kind of support the child or the parents need, as well as other assessment inquiries. From there, the care team works with parents to determine the best course of action—whether the child needs therapy only, psychiatry treatment, or a combination of both, and/or if the parents also need counseling in order to support their child better. 

Currently, Little Otter is available in around a dozen states, but it is continuing to expand and seeks to provide services to patients nationwide soon. Therapists and psychiatrists can work with kids struggling with anxiety, depression, eating disorders, trauma/PTSD, grief and loss, ADHD, OCD, behavioral challenges, and more. There are no wait times to be seen. 

In a survey of 105 users, 75% said their overall experience with Little Otter was either good, very good, or excellent. Additionally, more than half found navigating the site to be easy or very easy, 66% said they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the therapist they were matched with, and 61% said they were either likely or very likely to recommend the platform to someone else.

Plans & Pricing

While there is no free trial period, Little Otter offers parents a free informational call where they can learn more about the platform, including pricing and health insurance. Currently, Little Otter is in-network with Kaiser Permanente. The company is happy to provide users with proper documentation to file out-of-network claims with other insurance carriers. 

Pricing at Little Otter is a little different from other platforms. The welcome call costs $20 and is required to get started with therapy programs. From there, users do not have to sign up for a subscription; appointments are purchased individually or in bundles. A single 45-minute therapy session is $200. The assessment bundle is $540 and includes a 90-minute assessment appointment and one standard therapy session. After the assessment and initial appointment, users can purchase a 12-therapy session bundle for $2,040, or $170 per session. 

Psychiatry appointments are separate from therapy. A 75-minute psychiatry evaluation is $500, and a psychiatry follow-up appointment is $250.