We independently evaluate the products we review. When you buy via links on our site, we may receive compensation. Read more about how we vet products and deals.
The best online therapy for kids, according to therapists
Find support for your child with the top picks for online therapy, including Little Otter, Octave and Amwell.
When your child starts acting differently, or is showing signs of distress, it can be alarming, stirring up fear, worry and doubt. You may be wondering if your child needs therapy, but how do you know?
Best overall
Little Otter
Most affordable
Open Path Collective
Best for parents
Octave
Best for family counseling
Amwell
Most convenient
Thriveworks
Best online psychiatry
Talkiatry
Best LGBTQ affirming
Inclusive Therapists
Best for eating disorders
Equip
To find out, we spoke with Carly Steinberger, a licensed clinical social worker and children's therapist. She explained, "A child who is going through something may tantrum, be very scared or withdrawn, or even hit or kick others." She added that parents should trust their gut instinct — if you believe your child needs support, it's important to consider getting professional help.
As parents, our primary goal is to ensure our children receive the best possible support, but finding a reliable online therapy service can feel like a monumental task. That's why we've conducted extensive research to create a list of the best online therapy platforms for kids. We consulted three subject matter experts, explored 20 different platforms and personally tested three of the top choices.
As you review our recommendations, consider your child's needs, your budget and whether you require a provider that accepts insurance. This will guide you to the most suitable platform for your situation. Read on to find the best mental health care for your kiddo.
Content concerning mental health is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional medical or health advice. Consult a medical professional for questions about your health. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, call 911, local emergency services or 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline).
Table of contents
Best overall online therapy for kids
Cost: $190-$500 | Insurance accepted: Yes | States available: CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, MD, NJ, NY, NC, PA, TX, UT, VA and Washington, D.C. | Types of therapy offered: Therapy, medication management, parent coaching, couples therapy | Ages served: 0-14 years old and parents
Securing mental health care for your child can be overwhelming, with obstacles like scheduling, high costs and doubts about the effectiveness of online therapy. Little Otter addresses these issues with an integrative approach to children's mental health, making it our top recommendation for online therapy for kids.
Little Otter focuses on outcomes-based therapy to help children achieve their highest potential. They offer specialized treatments for conditions such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD, trauma, eating disorders and behavioral challenges, but they don't currently assess for autism spectrum disorder. We particularly value their holistic approach, which includes parent coaching and couples therapy.
Initial therapy assessments cost $390, and standard sessions cost $195. Psychiatry services start at $500 for the initial evaluation and $250 for follow-ups. Although these services are pricey, Little Otter accepts Independence Blue Cross, AmeriHealth, Sana and Florida Blue insurance.
- Wide range of services offered
- Offers medication management
- Accepts insurance
- Focuses on family well-being
- Out-of-pocket fees are high
- Isn't available in all 50 states
Other online therapy platforms for kids that we like
Cost: $40-$70 | Insurance accepted: No | States available: All 50 states | Types of therapy offered: Individual, couples | Ages served: All ages (varies by provider)
Therapy, including online therapy, usually comes with a high cost, but Open Path Collective offers a directory of sliding-scale providers to make it more affordable. The directory emphasizes therapists with diverse identities, making it an excellent option for BIPOC or LGBTQ children. Sessions range from $40 to $70, similar to an insurance copay. This level of financial accessibility is rare, so Open Path Collective is our top choice for affordable online therapy for kids.
Just a heads-up — when navigating the directory, select "Child or Adolescent" under the specialties tab. That way, your search will be filtered to therapists who provide counseling to kiddos. Since this is an online directory, you won't be automatically matched with someone. Don't be discouraged if you require consultations with a few providers to find the right fit.
- Affordable sessions
- Available in all 50 states
- Wide range of diverse providers
- Does not accept insurance
- Does not offer family therapy
Cost: $170-$275 | Insurance accepted: Yes | States available: AZ, CA, CT, FL, GA, MD, MA, NJ, NY, NC, OR, PA, TN, TX, VA, WA, Washington, D.C. | Types of therapy offered: Individual, couples, family, groups | Ages served: Ages 18 and up
Relationships can be complex, especially when raising children. Whether you're focused on co-parenting harmoniously or maintaining a strong marriage, we believe couples therapy is essential for parents, especially when the kids are in therapy too. This gives you an outlet to discuss your children's challenges in a neutral setting with a third party to help you navigate your emotions and approaches to parenting as a team.
Octave has a strong roster of providers with diverse identities and specialized couples therapy training. Plus, having tested them ourselves, we're also confident in their quality of care.
Engaging in couples therapy means bringing a third party into your relationship, a vulnerable move that requires a therapist skilled in evidence-based methods. Octave's therapists are trained in proven approaches such as emotionally focused therapy (EFT), integrative behavioral couples therapy (IBCT) and the Gottman method. Octave also scores high for accepting insurance, offering a responsive support team and providing a broad selection of therapists.
- Wide range of couples therapy providers
- Accepts insurance
- Diverse therapists on staff
- Does not offer children's therapy
- Medication management not available
Cost: $99-$199 | Insurance accepted: Yes | States available: All 50 states | Types of therapy offered: Individual, couples, family, medication management | Ages served: Adolescents ages 10-17 and adults
Family dynamics mean that issues like sibling conflict, grief, divorce or stress can affect everyone. Family therapy is particularly useful in these situations, as it enhances communication and conflict-resolution skills, leading to more positive interactions and a more peaceful daily life.
Having personally tested Amwell, we can attest to its value and quality of care, making it our pick for the best online therapy for family counseling.
Amwell accepts over 100 insurance plans, offers various types of therapy plus medication management and has an ultra-easy sign-up process. However, its website can be tricky to navigate, and therapist bios are only available after you sign up. If you can overlook these two drawbacks, Amwell is an excellent option for family therapy.
- Offers a wide variety of therapy
- Accepts insurance
- Offers medication management
- Easy sign-up process
- Website confusing to navigate
- Therapist bios are only available after signing up
Cost: $200-$300 | Insurance accepted: Yes | States available: All 50 states | Types of therapy offered: Individual, couples, family | Ages served: All ages
Juggling the needs of the entire family can be exhausting. There are sports practices, playdates and school events, on top of work and spending quality time together. That's why we set out to find a platform that offers appointments quickly, accepts insurance and has something for every member of the family.
We're pleased to share that Thriveworks meets each of these criteria. With same-day appointments available and treatment for all ages, we believe this is the most convenient online therapy for kids.
Thriveworks provides online therapy and, in some locations, in-person sessions. This is a valuable feature, as it allows you to switch to in-person therapy if online sessions don't suit your child. That said, the availability of these services depends on your location, with some areas offering more options than others.
- Same-day appointments available
- Accepts insurance
- Available in all states
- Sessions available for all ages
- The website can be overwhelming to navigate
- Some treatment options may be limited due to decreased provider availability
Cost: Varies based on insurance | Insurance accepted: Yes | States available: All states except AK, DE, HI, ID, NM, ND, SD, WY | Types of therapy offered: Medication management | Ages served: Ages 5+
Finding an online psychiatrist for kids can be daunting, especially for conditions like ADHD that often require the prescription of controlled substances for effective treatment. Most online services avoid prescribing these medications, further complicating the search.
After extensive research, we identified Talkiatry as a standout platform. It serves children ages 5 and older, and the providers are able to prescribe controlled substances (like Adderall), a rare feature among online services. Remember, state regulations on these prescriptions vary, with some requiring in-person visits. Even where legally permitted, many platforms do not offer this option.
A major advantage of Talkiatry is its specialized ADHD treatment. If your child needs support for ADHD, this platform could be an ideal choice.
Talkiatry operates on an insurance-only basis, which is beneficial as it accepts a broad range of insurance plans and usually reduces treatment costs to an affordable copay. However, if you don't have insurance, we recommend you check out Amwell’s psychiatry services instead.
- Controlled substances are prescribed per state regulations
- Accepts insurance
- Offers specialized ADHD treatment
- Only available with insurance
- Pricing only available after sign-up
Cost: Varies based on provider | Insurance accepted: Varies based on provider | States available: All states except HI, ND, SD and WY | Types of therapy offered: Individual, couples, family, group, medication management | Ages served: All ages
Finding an LGBTQ-affirming therapist is crucial for children exploring their gender identity and sexuality.
Inclusive Therapists is an online directory featuring a diverse range of providers committed to inclusive care. With various filters, including one for therapist identity, this directory helps you find the best mental health care provider for your child, making it our top recommendation for LGBTQ-affirming therapy for kids.
Given the extensive filter options, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Talk with your child about their needs and preferences to streamline the process. Draft a list that includes the therapist's identity, insurance compatibility, fees and therapeutic approach to make your search more efficient and effective to ensure your child receives the best possible care.
- Focus on diverse providers
- Plenty of filters to fine-tune your search
- Wide range of therapy types offered
- Not available in all states
- Search filters may be overwhelming
Cost: Varies based on insurance and level of care | Insurance accepted: Yes | States available: All 50 states | Types of therapy offered: Full-spectrum support including a dietitian, therapist, peer and family mentors and medical care | Ages served: All ages
Given the high mortality risk associated with eating disorders, providing timely, inclusive, integrative and effective care is essential. Equip offers an intensive virtual treatment program tailored for individuals with anorexia, avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), other specified feeding and eating disorders (OSFED), bulimia and binge eating disorder (BED).
Its services include therapy, dietitian guidance, medical care, peer mentorship and family mentorship. This comprehensive approach makes Equip our top pick for online therapy for eating disorders in kids.
It's important to note that Equip's program is intensive. While we value the availability of this extensive virtual care, it requires more time than simply starting with individual therapy. Contact Equip for a price estimate — they accept insurance and offer private pay options. Treatment may take up to three weeks to begin, so keep in mind that there's a short waiting period.
- Treats various eating disorders
- Support for co-occurring conditions
- Treats all ages
- Full spectrum of care is provided
- Must confirm pricing directly
- Delays of 2-3 weeks to begin treatment
Factors to consider when choosing online therapy for kids
Choosing an online therapist for your child can be a complex process as you're entrusting their care to someone you haven't met in person. But remember, you can always change therapists if things aren't working out. "It is always important for parents to assess and reassess to make sure that they have found the right therapist who is not only a kind person but is also helpful for the [child] and family's specific needs," explains Amanda Sacks, a licensed clinical social worker specializing in holistic online therapy for overwhelmed teens.
Finding a children's therapist for your kiddo is a collaborative process. The idea of therapy may be new and intimidating to them, so be sure to hold space for any big feelings.
For older children, ensure they're willing to engage in therapy. "I think a key thing to understand is the teen also needs to want therapy. Otherwise, forcing them to do it might backfire, and they might not want to try it out in the future," explains licensed marriage and family therapist and teen therapist Alicia Flores.
How we chose the best online therapy providers for kids
To compile our list of the best online therapy options for kids, we consulted three experts: two licensed clinical social workers and a licensed marriage and family therapist.
Our goal was to gather comprehensive insights on best practices for online therapy for children. In addition, we researched 20 different platforms, evaluating each for affordability, accessibility, public reputation and quality of services. Furthermore, the writer of this article is a licensed mental health care provider who has also personally tested several platforms, including three that ultimately made it onto the list.
FAQs
How do I know if my child needs therapy?
Great question! Sacks explains that a young person might benefit from therapy for many reasons. "For example, I specialize in helping teens reduce symptoms of anxiety, perfectionism or low self-esteem," she says. She adds that therapy can be beneficial for children or teens who are struggling with relationship dynamics with friends, family or dates, or have recently experienced a traumatic event.
What should I look for in a children's therapist?
Keep in mind that most therapists offer a free consultation before the first intake session, which you can attend on behalf of your child. Use this time to ask the therapist how they structure treatment and what to expect from the process.
Ensuring the therapist has ample experience working with your child's age group and presenting concerns is crucial. Check your potential therapist's credentials, licenses and any additional certifications that may make them the right fit for your child's needs.
Can online therapy be done effectively with children?
Yes! Research suggests that online therapy can be very effective for children. However, it may not be the right fit for every child. "In-person therapy may be required or encouraged for teens who are considered high-risk," Sacks explains, highlighting that "high-risk" means the potential for self-harm or harm to others.
Meet our experts
Amanda Sacks, LCSW, psychotherapist and yoga teacher, NY
Carly Steinberger, LCSW, children's therapist, Hermosa Beach, Calif.
Alicia Flores, LMFT, teen therapist, San Diego, Calif.
