Online Therapy for Children: What Parents Need to Know
As a parent or caregiver, it can be incredibly tough to watch your child struggle — whether with anxiety, low mood, sleep problems, or difficulties at school. You might have noticed changes in their behaviour, increased emotional outbursts, or a loss of confidence, and you're wondering: Would therapy help? And could online therapy really work for a child?
At The Online Psychologists, we offer specialist online therapy for children and young people. All sessions are delivered by Clinical Psychologists with doctoral-level training and extensive experience working with children, families, and schools. Here’s what parents often want to know — and why online therapy can be just as effective as face-to-face sessions.
Can Online Therapy Really Work for Children?
Yes — when it’s delivered by the right professional, online therapy can be highly effective for children. Research has shown that psychological interventions, including CBT and parent-based interventions, can work just as well online as they do in person (Slone et al., 2021). In fact, many children feel more at ease in their own environment — especially if they’re anxious, shy, or find new settings overwhelming.
Online therapy can also feel less intimidating than walking into a clinic, which helps build trust and engagement more quickly.
What Can Therapy Help With?
Our team of Clinical Psychologists supports children with a wide range of emotional, behavioural, and developmental concerns, including:
Anxiety (including separation anxiety, phobias, school-related anxiety)
Low mood and loss of confidence
Obsessive-compulsive difficulties (OCD)
Sleep problems and bedtime fears
Grief or parental separation
Emotional regulation and outbursts
Trauma or upsetting life events
Self-esteem and social difficulties
Neurodiversity, including ADHD-related emotional struggles
We also work with parents — sometimes through direct parenting support, and other times alongside child sessions — to create a joined-up, supportive approach.
What Does Online Therapy Look Like for a Child?
Each child is unique, so the therapy is tailored to their age, developmental stage, and needs. It may include:
Talking, drawing, or using creative methods to explore feelings
Games and visual tools to help build emotional understanding
CBT or parent-led CBT for anxiety and behavioural difficulties
EMDR for trauma, adapted for children and delivered sensitively
Collaborative work with parents, especially for younger children
Psychoeducation — helping children and parents make sense of emotions, behaviour, and brain-body responses
All sessions are delivered through secure video platforms that meet confidentiality and safeguarding standards. Parents are usually involved at the beginning and end of sessions (depending on age), and we regularly review progress together.
Why Online Can Be a Better Fit for Some Families
Familiar setting = more relaxed children: Home is where children feel safe. This often helps them engage more quickly and comfortably in therapy.
No travel or disruption: Families save time, avoid stress, and can fit therapy into their daily routine more easily.
Wider access to specialists: You’re not limited to therapists in your area. You can access Clinical Psychologists with specialist child training, no matter where you live in the UK.
Empowers parent involvement: Online therapy often includes parents as part of the therapeutic process — something that improves outcomes, especially for younger children
Our Approach to Matching Your Child with the Right Psychologist
At The Online Psychologists, we don’t believe in generic therapy. Every child who comes to us is assessed through a free consultation call with Dr Rachel Whatmough, Clinical Psychologist and Director. During this conversation, we’ll learn about your child, your concerns, and your hopes — and carefully match you with the Clinical Psychologist best suited to help.
We have Clinical Psychologists with specific expertise in child and adolescent mental health, neurodiversity, anxiety, and trauma. And because we’re a small, clinician-led team (not a large platform), we take time to get that match right.
Final Thoughts
When a child is struggling, it’s natural to feel unsure about the next step. But early support can make a huge difference — not just in how your child copes now, but in how they develop resilience, confidence, and emotional awareness in the long term.
Online therapy can be a warm, effective, and empowering space for children, helping them make sense of their feelings, build new skills, and feel more in control again.
References
Slone, N. C., Reese, R. J., Mathews-Duvall, S., & Kodet, J. (2021). Telepsychology with children: A scoping review of effectiveness and clinical guidelines. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 26(2), 135–146.
