Should My Teen Do Virtual Therapy?

You’ve been wondering lately, should my teen do virtual therapy? It’s possible that your teen has a jam packed schedule. They’re in school, have extracurricular activities, and barely have time to eat dinner or do homework at night. Alongside this, you, as their parent, may also have a busy schedule. You could be juggling several family members’ schedules as well.

 

Because of this, finding time to commute around town is tricky. You’re driving around, picking people up at different times or locations. Your partner is busy at work, or stuck in traffic on the way home. You find yourself struggling to even make time for yourself during the day. So, the idea of driving far for therapy in Thousand Oaks is difficult.

 

With all of this, you care deeply about your teen. They’ve confided in you that they’re struggling, or it’s becoming increasingly obvious that something is going on with them. You know you want to connect them with a teen therapist in Thousand Oaks to address these ongoing issues. However, can virtual therapy be an option for them?

 

This blog will list out three reasons for when your teen should do virtual therapy in California. If your teen is not facing any issues with these three reasons, virtual therapy can be a great option for accommodating busy schedules! Virtual therapy can be effective and convenient when paired with the right Simi Valley teen therapist. 

 

Your teen has a device that maintains internet connection 

For virtual therapy, it’s important that your teen has a working electronic device that can maintain internet connection. Your teen can hold therapy on a laptop, tablet, or even their phone. As long as there is good video, audio, and internet connection, they can successfully hold therapy. 

 

Depending on the device your teen uses, their therapist near Thousand Oaks may want to do virtual activities with them over the video chat. This helps implement various in-session tasks that are usually performed in-person, such as playing games or creating art together. You don’t need the latest iPhone or Macbook for therapy, just something that will help them properly connect with their Simi Valley therapist.

 

If your electronic devices at home are not in good condition, this may not be a good fit. They could struggle to connect to a charger, there may be damage to the devices, causing certain functions to inconsistently work. It glitches, freezes, shuts off, or restarts pages without warning. If so, consider getting a new device or exploring other options for teen therapy in Simi Valley. Click here to read a blog on what to do if your teen does not want therapy!

 

Your teen will have total privacy for sessions

Having an electronic device with a secure connection is definitely a crucial aspect to holding virtual therapy sessions. But, if your teen does not have total privacy? That’s a major barrier to effectively participating in therapy. A couple examples for what total privacy for sessions looks like includes:

 

• No one is in the same room as them. 
• No one is eavesdropping on the session.
• No one is casually interrupting the session, whether to speak to the teen or therapist.
• No one is able to hear the therapy session. 
• No one is able to view the electronic screen.
• No one is on stand-by to participate, unless agreed upon prior by both the teen and therapist.

 

If any of these things can happen, your teen may not have good experiences in virtual therapy sessions. Although it’s possible that your teen can hold sessions in isolated places, such as in a car outside the home, they deserve to have a secure place. If you feel you cannot stop yourself from engaging in these behaviors, you may need to consider individual therapy for yourself. 

 

It’s important that your teen’s privacy is respected. They deserve to be able to speak freely about their issues without fear of someone hearing, retaliating, or getting them in trouble. Therapy is often referred to as a safe space, as the therapist is not here to judge, discipline, or shame the teen. 

 

Interested in learning more about our teen therapy services in Simi Valley? Call us today for a free consultation! Consider reading our blog on What Parents Can Expect for Teen Therapy.

 

If your teen has a quiet area to hold sessions

It’s possible that there are shared rooms in your house. Multiple siblings share the same room or some rooms hold different purposes, like doubling as a workspace. Let’s say for example that your kiddo doesn’t have their own room. If someone is occupying the room, they may have to hangout in a common area like a living room or kitchen space.

 

However, this would not be an ideal space to hold therapy. There could be movement, noise, unexpected entry, and this can all be disruptive to their experience. Further, it is not a private environment for them to speak with a therapist. Although space may be limited, this is not appropriate to hold virtual therapy; for either the therapist or the teen. 

 

Ensure that your teen has a quiet area to hold their sessions. It’s possible that there may need to be a house rule to not play loud music, not disturb them, and overall keep it peaceful in the home. If this is possible for your teen, virtual therapy can be a great fit for them! Make sure to read our blog on 3 Tips for Starting Teen Therapy in Simi Valley.

 

In sum, if your teen is facing these barriers to virtual therapy, consider in-person therapy instead. Therapy groups offer afternoons, evenings, or even weekend availability. It’s worth making some temporary schedule accommodations to ensure your teen gets the support they need!

 

In-person therapy in Simi Valley is ideal for those seeking a separate, safe space from their home. Check out our blog on Online Therapy or In Office Therapy to understand what format is best for you. Another great blog to read is ours on if you need Therapy or Medication to address your issues.

 

By seeking out support, you can begin your journey to feeling relief. You don’t have to go through finding the right level of support alone, either. By clicking here, you’ll read our blog on Information About Simi Valley Therapists.

 

Consider calling our therapy group at (805) 774-1506 for a free consultation on how you or a loved one can get started today!

 

Seek out a validating, safe environment with us today. We will help you get to where you want to be. Our therapists provide trauma therapy, teen therapy, individual adult therapy, LGBTQIA+ therapy, anxiety therapy, depression therapy, family therapy, and more in-office in Simi Valley, CA.