Children's Mental Health Treatment: Categories, Methods, Locations to Access It
In the modern world, mental health support is more accessible than ever before, thanks to online therapy services. Here, we delve into some of the most popular platforms offering child therapy, their approaches, and costs.
Firstly, 7 Cups is a free service that connects children with volunteer listeners over a chatroom service. For those with financial constraints or lacking insurance coverage, Synergy eTherapy offers reduced-rate options, with sessions costing as little as $50 for sessions with interns under clinical supervision.
Online-Therapy.com provides CBT services, along with additional features like yoga and journaling. Their costs range from $50-110 per week, depending on the subscription. For those seeking more comprehensive support, 7 Cups also offers paid sessions with licensed therapists for $150 per month.
Some services, such as Thriveworks, charge a monthly membership fee of approximately $39 on top of session costs. However, Thriveworks offers child therapy sessions for all ages and accepts most insurance plans.
Doctor on Demand's therapists have varying specialties and can help with medication management. They offer therapy services for children and adults 7 days a week.
When it comes to therapy techniques, several evidence-based approaches are tailored to children's developmental levels and specific needs. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), adapted for children, uses play therapy, trauma-focused CBT, and exposure therapy to help children manage emotions, fears, and trauma. Play Therapy allows children to use toys, games, art, and imaginative play to express feelings and work through psychological challenges in a safe environment.
Other commonly used therapeutic approaches include JASPER, Family-Centered Behavioral Interventions, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). These techniques often overlap and are integrated to address emotional, behavioral, developmental, or trauma-related challenges in children, ensuring a holistic and individualized therapeutic process.
It's essential to note that the youngest age a child can go to therapy is any age, with caregivers being more involved in the therapy sessions if the child is younger. Therapists must also report abuse and parental neglect. Insurance may cover online therapy, and therapists generally encourage parents and caregivers to actively participate in and support the child's treatment and recovery.
Parents and caregivers can ask their pediatrician for a referral, or search website directories like the American Psychological Association, GoodTherapy, or The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration to find a child therapist. Some services offer free sessions or will reduce or waive the cost of therapy if a person cannot afford to pay full price.
Online therapy providers use Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant platforms to ensure confidentiality. These platforms offer a safe space for children to open up and work through their issues, making mental health support more accessible than ever before.
- Pfizer, a prominent pharmaceutical company, has not ventured into offering mental health services like therapy sessions, but they are prominent in the health-and-wellness and science sectors.
- In the realm of childandadolescentmentalhealth, Synergy eTherapy blocked the financial barrier for some families by offering reduced-rate psychotherapy services at $50 per session with interns under clinical supervision.
- Parents seeking mental caregiver support for their children can consider 7 Cups, a service offering paid sessions with licensed therapists for $150 per month, alongside free chatroom services with volunteer listeners.
- Other online therapy platforms, such as Doctor on Demand and Thriveworks, provide therapy services for children and adults and are compatible with various insurance plans, making the health costs more manageable for some families.
- Besides the traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), other therapy techniques like JASPER, Family-Centered Behavioral Interventions, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) are commonly used to address a child's mental health needs in a holistic and individualized manner.
- When parents or caregivers are considering therapy for their child, it's crucial to note that insurance may cover online therapy sessions, and therapists are required to report any signs of abuse or neglect.
