How Teens Can Succeed in Online Therapy This Winter

Online therapy can be a divisive topic for teens. While some teens love the option to do therapy from the comfort of their own bedroom, it is not always an easy fit. Doing therapy at home can sometimes be a struggle for kids and teens when it comes to a few specific areas, and these difficulties often become more pronounced in the winter months. This can occur for a number of reasons, whether the seasons affect their depression symptoms or attention span, decrease their energy, or simply make them feel like there isn’t enough time in the day to do therapy and everything else they want or need to do. However, online therapy can also be a great benefit to teens. The lack of commute cuts down on the actual time commitment required for teens, and means that parents don’t have to be involved in order for their child to attend. It allows for therapy to be given over long distances so that the priority is given to seeing the right therapist, not the closest or most convenient. So if remote therapy can have significant benefits for both the teen and the family as a whole, how can we help our teens succeed in online therapy during the winter?

Here are 5 tips to help your teen succeed in therapy online during the winter:

Give them privacy 

One of the biggest struggles teens face with remote therapy is feeling like they can freely talk. Letting them go into their room, close the door, and use headphones can be a helpful step to allowing them to feel comfortable. Taking additional steps like running errands (if they can safely be left home alone) and keeping their siblings away from the room can also be beneficial not in just creating a safe space for them, but in showing that you understand and value their privacy.

Embrace the cold, get cozy…

Being comfortable during sessions at home is one of the best parts! There is nothing that says kids can’t do home therapy in their comfiest pajamas or sweatpants, curled in front of the fireplace, or with a big cup of hot cocoa. Ritualizing therapy to be a cozy, soothing experience can help them increase the benefits of therapy and build positive associations with the process.

But not too cozy

A big part of the darker days and longer nights is the increased sleepiness and lethargy during the days. This makes it much harder to engage in activities after school– particularly activities that may be more obligatory or stationary, like homework. Your teen may want to avoid doing therapy in their bed, or so bundled and cozy that they’re too tired to participate.  

Keep the lights on during those evening hours

It can be tempting to leave the lights off until the sun is already setting, but particularly when the sun is setting so early, this can send some mixed messages to our brains. We already have a natural energy crash that commonly occurs between 1pm and 3pm, and the setting of the sun signals to us that it’s time to wind down for the evening. By keeping the lights on during this time, it avoids reinforcing the idea of it being ‘time for bed.’  

Take a break between therapy and schoolwork 

Going straight from school to therapy, or from therapy to home, can make therapy feel like it’s similar to these things. Because it’s sometimes seen as an obligation, it can then feel like there’s been no time for the teen to enjoy or decompress. By allowing or even encouraging short breaks between therapy and school, your teen not only will associate therapy with being able to relax a little, but will also feel less burned out heading into schoolwork. 

Winter can be a difficult time for teens, regardless of whether they do therapy in person or remotely. These tips can help them tackle their remote sessions and get the most out of them as possible.