Child Developement

Online therapy for children may not always be your first choice against a home-based or in-person intervention plan, yet with evolving technology and the demands of present-day life, online intervention offers you benefits that other platforms just may not be able to keep up with. Are you trying to decide if online therapy is the right choice for your child? Read on to understand some of its benefits. 

What Is Online Therapy?

Online therapy also referred to as Teletherapy refers to counselling and other forms of therapy that you can access online, conducted over the internet. Unlike a home visit or in-person therapy session, online therapy only requires a stable internet connection and a device such as a smartphone, tablet or computer. 

Benefits of Online Therapy:

Privacy And Convenience:

One of the biggest benefits of online intervention is the convenience it offers. All you need is a good internet connection and your child can access therapy from anywhere. From the comfort and privacy of your home and also when you are away from home on a holiday or otherwise. Your child doesn’t need to miss a therapy session. You won't be spending time in waiting rooms for your appointment and only need to log in, in time for your sessions. You can schedule sessions at a time and day that is convenient to you, as most therapists offer sessions even on weekends and beyond typical working hours. This can be a major advantage, especially for working parents. 

Accessibility:

Online therapy gives you the choice to have accessibility to therapists not only in your locality or city but from all over the country and possibly even globally. Ever wished you could consult a renowned specialist for your child from across the country but felt limited because of the geographical constraint? Well, online therapy instantly breaks down that barrier for you. You can even access therapists who offer sessions in a language your child is comfortable with. Online therapy, also means better accessibility for those living in remote or rural areas. As most of them have access to the internet, they can now have access to much-needed services and support. Therapy online also provides the opportunity for children who might have physical disabilities or are housebound to access therapy from the comfort of their home.

‍Time Saving:

For most parents, especially those living in big cities, spending precious time sitting through traffic to get their child to a therapy session, can be stressful and time-consuming. With online therapy, you can skip the travel, save time, effort and money and access therapy from the safety and comfort of your home. With an ongoing pandemic that has disrupted normal life in many ways, parents and therapists have found it difficult to access each other, as lockdowns and other safety concerns, mean isolation and staying put at home. In such situations, online therapy has provided continuity in the regularity of sessions, ensuring children and therapists stay connected. 

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Cost-Effective:

The financial responsibilities of raising a child with special needs are immense. Online therapy although might cost more or less as in-person sessions and marginally lesser than home visits, can work out more economical for parents, as they needn’t spend on travel and other costs. With online therapy, you can also consult a variety of Specialists all connected to one organization without registering multiple times. 

What to consider before signing up for Online Therapy

Age Of The Child: 

Online therapy may not be suitable for very young children, specifically those below 3. If you are looking to enrol your very young child in therapy, In-person or home-based intervention might provide a better start before you shift to online sessions.  

Diagnosis And Assessments:

Even though therapy might be provided online, you may not have access to receiving a diagnosis or having certain assessments conducted for your child online. However, your online therapist can refer you to the right person for a complete evaluation and then chalk out goals for your child. 

To sum it up, online sessions provide the flexibility, accessibility and choice that in-person or home-based sessions just don’t accommodate. Given that in-person therapy isn’t ideal in the current circumstances, online sessions are accessible from the safety of your home, ensuring your child does not lose out on early and timely intervention. 

If you have trouble deciding whether online therapy will work for your child, reach out to our Support Team who can give you more information on the process. Don’t hesitate to ask them questions and voice out your concerns.