One of the biggest changes in the mental health field over the last decade has been the arrival of online therapy, or teletherapy. 

Today, you’ll learn 7 key benefits of online therapy!

As a family mental health and wellness company that specializes in online therapy, including online psychiatry, for children, we have a particular perspective. That said, our team is led by scientists. We always prioritize the best care, and would never recommend an online therapy approach when it doesn’t make sense for the patient and their family. With that in mind, you’ll also learn a few cases when online therapy might not be the best course of action.

So without further ado, here are the most important benefits of online therapy for adults, kids, and families.

1. Online therapy improves access to mental health care.

American adults and children are living through a mental health crisis. Even before the pandemic, we were facing a child mental health crisis; one in 5 U.S children have an impairing emotional, behavioral, or developmental disorders, yet 80% of these children receive no mental health care. The pandemic and increasing rates of child mental health challenges has made the situation worse. The US Surgeon General, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the National Children’s Hospital Association declaring a public health emergency in child mental health.

Getting access to mental health care can be extremely challenging for both children and adults in the US. The persistent provider shortage means that it’s difficult to find a mental health care professional. Plus, weeks-long waitlists mean that even if you do find a provider, it could take months just to book your first appointment. These problems are even more acute for families that live in more rural areas.

It’s imperative for children to get care when they need it. As research shows, early detection and treatment really matter for a child’s lifelong mental health.

It is abundantly clear that we won’t solve the child mental health crisis simply by training more providers. After all, nearly three quarters of the counties in the U.S (72%), do not have a single child psychiatrist. Instead, we have to adjust how we access care. That’s a big part of why it’s so hard to find a child psychiatrist for many families.

Online therapy for children makes it possible for mental health care professionals to serve families throughout their state. As a result, it’s easier for both adults and children to access the care they need. 

Little Otter is founded by Dr. Helen Egger and Rebecca Egger, a mother-daughter duo committed to addressing the unmet mental health needs of children and their families. 

2. Online therapy is more convenient.

We’ve outlined key structural problems: too few providers to address the overwhelming need, resulting in months-long waitlists. Add to these structural problems the everyday challenges of scheduling, coordinating with work and school, and child care for little ones who may not be attending the appointment, and you have a perfect storm. The result? Many families simply can’t access the mental health care they need because it’s too inconvenient.

With online therapy, adults, kids, and families can access care from anywhere with an internet connection. Online therapy for children means kids don’t need to miss three hours of school for an appointment that’s 40 minutes away, and parent’s don’t need to take precious time off to join an appointment. There’s some data to indicate that this online therapy may result in fewer cancellations and no-show appointments.

Online therapy also allows individuals to message providers via text, and sometimes, outside of business hours. On platforms like Little Otter, patients can also have access to asynchronous messaging and other digital resources that aren’t available in office settings.

3. Online therapy is often more comfortable.

For many, opening up is easier in spaces that are familiar and safe. With online mental health care, you can have your therapy session from the comfort of your bed or couch. 

Often, children feel more comfortable talking with a psychiatrist or therapist from their home, rather than in an office. This can lead to more effective mental health care.

4. Online therapy can provide more realistic insight.

With online therapy, mental health care providers are meeting with people in their own homes. They’re able to learn more about the natural family dynamics, and gain essential perspective about the family context.

In addition, digital approaches to care can also offer parents and caregivers the opportunity to record and share challenging situations, such as tantrums or behavioral incidents. This allows the mental health care provider to see a situation in something like real-time, and provide the appropriate guidance and guardrails for reflection.

This can also empower mental health professionals to provide more tailored care approaches that reflect the true reality of the family situation.

5. Online therapy can improve access to specialty mental health care.

It’s already difficult to access mental health care; finding a local specialist can feel impossible. However, online therapy makes it possible to access different types of specialized care, all comfortably and conveniently.

At Little Otter, we provide specialized, evidence-based care for a range of children’s mental health disorders from anxiety to ADHD, as well as for special groups of people, including infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, and medically ill children. We also provide care for parents, including couples counseling, to support the whole family. Our diverse team is trained in cultural awareness and trauma-informed pediatric mental health care. 

Simply put, you wouldn’t find the breadth of expertise at Little Otter in most clinics, except perhaps in an academic medical center facility.

6. Online therapy helps get the whole family involved.

When one member of your family is struggling, it impacts everyone. That’s why we take a whole family approach to mental health care that’s designed for parents, caregivers, children, and adolescents. But that’s not just about who receives care; it’s also about who participates to support their loved one’s wellbeing.

Online therapy for children can increase the participation by multiple caregivers. In one study, dads participated in 95% of digital sessions, versus just 5% of in-person sessions.

Not only can this participation have a positive impact on the quality of care itself, but it can also reduce tension between caregivers, as it’s easier for them to be on the same page. We’ll talk more about quality next.

7. Online therapy provides unique quality control opportunities.

With teletherapy, it’s easier to record sessions and conversations, without interrupting or intruding upon the therapy session itself. This can make it easier to monitor quality of the care.

For example, at Little Otter, we record all video sessions for the purpose of supervision and quality control. The care is ultimately better, because we know what’s actually happening in the sessions.

When might online mental health not be the best course of action?

There are certain instances where online therapy may not be the best course of action. For example, it can be difficult to provide support for autism online. If you or a member of your family is in crisis, call 911, go to the nearest emergency room, or reach out to the following national resources. Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to reach a 24-hour crisis center, or text 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.

That said, for many families, telehealth can support child and family mental health.

Little Otter’s online therapy puts kids and families first.

Little Otter is a fully digital mental health platform for kids and families, because the evidence shows that telehealth works and is the only way to improve both access to care and access to specialized care for children and families. At Little Otter, we believe that we have to leverage technology, data science, and telemedicine to find solutions to the child mental health crisis.

If your family could use some extra support for challenges ranging from behavior concerns to depression, we’re here for you. Learn more and register today.