Why Some Teens Prefer Online Therapy vs In-Person Therapy

There are plenty of reasons why a teenager may try therapy. Like anyone else, they can be susceptible to anxiety, depression, substance abuse, stress, and life disruptions. These almost inevitable factors can affect a teen’s life enough to ask for help (or have it suggested). Their next steps are varied, but these days include something new. Should they try online or in-person therapy?

Since more teenagers are opting for video chat, this trend warrants a closer look. What’s the appeal of online therapy to this age group, and how is it impacting the treatment they receive? For starters, let’s explore the world of online therapy.

First Things First

Call it online or virtual therapy, but it’s been around for a while. In fact, as far back as 2016, 3 out of 4 adolescents expressed a preference for “tele-therapy” over in-person sessions. During the recent pandemic lockdowns, however, it became far more common. It’s here to stay for several well-documented reasons.

Advantages of Online Therapy For Teens

The apparent upside is that therapy can become part of something they are familiar with. The online world is a significant part of young people’s lives. If they’re already comfortable communicating in this way, it can be a significant plus for teens to get their counseling via digital means. Besides this obvious factor, teenagers often find other aspects of online therapy attractive. Here are a few:

Convenience

Who doesn’t prefer not having a commute? Therapy becomes much more user-friendly when there’s a round trip to make, no outfits to pick out, and you don’t have to consider things like weather, time of day, or feeling awkward in a medical office.

Remember that some teens don’t yet have a driver’s license or a car. They might live in a location where finding a compatible therapist is more of a challenge. In some cases, a teenager might be struggling with an illness or disability that makes it far more difficult to schedule sessions that require travel or specific office hours.

Another critical factor is that many young adults are far more comfortable talking in their bedrooms than in an office setting. Online therapy allows them to be in their safe space, which helps the therapist get a more accurate picture of who they are.

Privacy

This is huge for just about everyone. As much progress as we’ve made as a society, there are still many thriving stigmas when it comes to mental health. Teens are very conscious of where and how they fit into their social world, so it might be harrowing to think they’d be seen entering a therapist’s office. They worry about running into someone they know in the waiting room. Obviously, this is not an issue with online therapy.

Cost

Situations and facilities vary widely, but in some cases, online therapy can be more cost-effective than in-person therapy. For many people, this is an important variable in this time of economic belt-tightening.

Benefits of In-Person Therapy

As valuable as all the elements above are, it must be said that in-person therapy is still an important, front-line option for reasons like:

• Making a more personal connection
• The value of non-verbal communication
• Some teens may prefer to not be at home and risk being overheard by people they might be talking about
• Fewer distractions
• Therapists can make specific assessments when face-to-face with a client

Ultimately, this is a personal decision for each teen to make. There’s no reason why they can’t try one format and then switch if they desire. What matters most is connecting with a professional and beginning a conversation that significantly improves their lives. Reach out to learn more about teen therapy.