Virtual Family Therapy: Benefits, and What to Expect

Between school, work, and taking care of things around the house, finding time to come together as a family for therapy and to address ongoing challenges can feel difficult. 

Family therapy can offer several benefits, including flexible scheduling, increased privacy, and accessibility for family members due to geography or time conflicts. 

Read on to explore what virtual family therapy is, what it looks like, and how it can benefit your family.  

What is Virtual Family Therapy?

Virtual family therapy reflects in-person therapy, except it takes place on a secure online telehealth platform rather than a therapist’s office. The purpose of virtual therapy is the same as traditional: to strengthen family systems and help parents and teens communicate better. This can benefit the mental health of everyone in the household. 

The simple change from in-person to a virtual setting can make a difference in comfort, ease, and accessibility for many families. It allows each family member to join from their space, especially helpful for those managing busy households, work routines, or who physically do not live close. 

A few things to expect when you first begin virtual family therapy include: 

• Before your first virtual sessions, you will likely receive a link to a secure video platform. From there, you often just need an internet connection and can enter by typing the name you prefer to have appear on the video screen. You don’t need anything fancy to log onto these, and they tend to be straightforward. 
• Throughout the session, everyone will have the chance to speak,  express their needs, and feel heard. The therapist is there to guide the conversation, especially when sensitive topics are brought up. 
• Family therapy continues outside sessions, and the family therapist often assigns bonding activities to strengthen the relationship between parents and their teens.  

What Does Virtual Therapy Look Like for Each Family Member? 

Family therapy can look or feel slightly different for each person, but it is designed to create a space where everyone’s feelings are valued. 

• Teens: Therapists might use online games, storytelling, digital art, or interactive tools to increase engagement. They may feel more comfortable opening up in a virtual setting, and many teens report liking online therapy, citing less anxiety about sessions and feeling more empowered to verbalize their feelings. 
• Parents:  Therapists work with parents to identify challenges, understand different approaches, and find better ways to support their teens. Online therapy can be a safe space for parents and guardians to explore challenges of parenting without stigma or that they are doing it “wrong”.    
• Other Family Members: Virtual therapy is an ideal option for extended family members who may not be able to come in-office or live close by, but who play a key role in your teen’s life. Grandparents could join without the need to travel, or an aunt who lives out of town could hop onto the session. Extended family members may not be part of every session, but having access to join essential family meetings can create stronger bonds and expand your teens’ support network. 

Benefits of Online Family Therapy for Teens 

Family therapy offers several benefits for teens, their parents/caregivers, and any extended family members or close family friends who join the sessions. These include: 

• Flexibility: As long as there’s internet access, family members can join sessions from their laptop or even their phone. This can reduce the time it takes to go to in-person sessions and reduce schedule conflicts. 
• Less Missed Sessions: Research shows online therapy appointments are less likely to be missed as patients and their families can book times that work for them, and many platforms send reminders to family members about upcoming sessions [1]. 
• More Involvement: In traditional settings, many family members may not be able to join. However, technology breaks down geographical barriers and removes the stigma of going to an in-person therapy setting. Studies show that family involvement in the addiction and mental health recovery for teens can greatly improve successful treatment outcomes [2]. 

When Are In-Person Family Sessions Recommended?

There are times when in-person or home-based interventions are best, as this face-to-face connection and physical presence are sometimes necessary. Here are a few situations where in-person family therapy sessions are a better choice: 

• Crisis Situations: In the case of psychosis, overdose, or suicide, teens may require a stay in inpatient treatment where in-person family therapy is incorporated into ongoing treatment. 
• Young Children: Family therapy sessions where children are involved, especially under 12, may not always be beneficial when conducted online, as kids can get more easily distracted or treatment may not feel as “real” to them in a clinical setting. 
• Unsafe Conditions: Active addiction in the home, domestic abuse, or parents who struggle from severe mental illness may better benefit from attending in-person sessions or having a therapeutic team come to the home for home-based interventions. 

Tips for Making The Most of Virtual Family Therapy

There are several ways to increase engagement and make the most of your family therapy sessions, these include: 

• Find a private, quiet space where you can join the session either as a family or have each member log in with their own account, whichever works best for your family. This is important so everyone feels safe to feel openly and honestly. 
• Be patient and respectful, just as if you were in a traditional office. It can be easy to get frustrated with family members, especially if the therapist is not physically present. Be patient with each other, and treat the sessions as if you were in an in-person setting. 
• Stay engaged, take an active role in therapy, and, between your sessions, find ways as a family to stay connected, whether through dinnertime, game nights, or tech-free days. 
• Make sure you have a working internet connection. For families with limited internet access, several state and federal programs offer subsidized internet services to reduce costs, such as Connect Home USA. You can also contact your local cable provider, such as Lifeline or Comcast, or ask your treatment provider if they know of any local subsidized internet programs. 

Virtual Therapy for Teens and Families in Texas  

Clearfork Academy is a network of behavioral health facilities in Texas committed to helping teens recover from substance abuse and co-occurring mental health disorders with evidence-based treatments and a family-inclusive approach to care. We offer online therapy and virtual IOP treatment (VIOP) to support teens and their parents or caregivers on the path toward recovery. 

We are LegitScript Certified, accredited by the Joint Commission, and regularly meet state and federal licensing requirements. Contact our admissions team today to find safe and effective virtual mental health treatment for your teen. 

Sources

[1] Waite, M. R., Diab, S., & Adefisoye, J. (2022). Virtual Behavioral Health Treatment Satisfaction and Outcomes Across Time. Journal of patient-centered research and reviews, 9(3), 158–165.

[2] Fishman, M. (2021). Family involvement in treatment and recovery for substance use disorders among transition-age youth: Research bedrocks and opportunities. Journal of substance abuse treatment, 129, 108402.