I have many clients ask if telehealth is just as effective as in-office therapy.  My answer is often yes, but it depends on some different factors that you have to consider before deciding if it's right for you. Having a safe and private place to talk is number one.  If you live by yourself or are home alone, you probably will not worry about others listening in.  If you have a private space that feels safe, you might prefer telehealth over coming to the office. I find many clients end up liking the comfort of their own home and not having to make a trip to the office. Another one is the ability to use and connect to technology. If you don't have good wifi or a computer or smartphone, the office is obviously your better bet.   From what I have observed over the past few years of using telehealth, I have generally seen the same progress and success rates whether clients are doing telehealth or in-office therapy.  I do not think that the screen hinders the therapeutic relationship as long as I am able to see and hear you clearly. Personally, I believe that people with severe trauma or suicidal ideation benefit more from the office environment. This is due to the essential need for feelings of being in a safe, controlled environment for victims of trauma, and the potential need to intervene suicidal intent.  Studies however have concluded that even clients with severe mental health disorders such as these, still have good outcomes. 

The other exception is very young children. Children 5 and under will most certainly do better where they can interact with you in person and use toys and games. Kids 6 and up can be very successful in virtual therapy. Many parents are skeptical of this and I was too at first, but when the pandemic hit and we had to switch over, I found that most kids were just as engaged. It does depend on the child. For example, a 6 year old with ADHD, thus a very short attention span, would probably do better in the office, but a 6 year old who is able to focus on a computer will likely do just as well online if they have access to art supplies, toys, and a private room. I find that kids like showing their rooms and using their toys at home for the therapy activities and assignments. You have to keep in mind that in general it's easier for younger generations to accept and feel comfortable with online communications than for the older generations because they were born in the era of technology. To kids, talking and learning on a screen is the norm.

Studies show that telemedicine for mental health is very effective, so which is truly better comes down to what feels best to you.  Some people just prefer one method over the other, but I urge you to try both before you make that judgement. Remember, Sam I Am did not like Green Eggs and Ham until he took a bite! 

Teens can be a delight to work with in therapy, or they can be just as difficult with a therapist as they can be with you! Like adults, the key to success in therapy is internal motivation. If you're teenager is open to therapy, then there's a good chance it will help them. If they want nothing to do with it, it's probably not going to help much. Motivation for treatment is a huge indicator of someone's ability to progress in therapy. I ask that you talk to your child and make sure they are at least willing to give it a try. If so, I would be happy to work with them! With teenagers, I focus on building coping and communication skills, emotional regulation, and learning to identify that sometimes our thoughts about a situation may not be that accurate and could be changed to healthier thoughts (CBT techniques). Parenting teens is another story. If you are looking for parenting advice, I can offer communication skills that can strengthen your relationship with them, but I do not specialize in parenting teens – it's quite different from parenting kids under 12! Sometimes I may have some helpful insight on ways to support them from what they share with me in sessions, but my focus is not on parenting teens.