The best online therapy for kids, according to therapists

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.