Online therapy for teens
What teens say about Talkspace
“Talkspace kind of just allowed me to get the care that I needed at the time that I needed it when I needed it. My therapist would be able to be there for me almost instantaneously.”
— Paige
“My therapist made it very easy and welcoming . . It really did help. I feel like everybody should give it a shot. You just never know when you need to talk to somebody, when you need to process your emotions.”
— Sheila
“Knowing that I can text my therapist whenever I need and she can get back to me as soon as she can is also really comforting. I always know that somebody is there for me when I need them.”
— Ice
“I absolutely love the therapist I’ve been paired with. She’s really helpful. Therapy has been super-beneficial for me.”
— Natalie
“It was so helpful because I was able to understand more about myself as well as building specific exercises that I was able to do in my day to day life with anxiety and overthinking.”
— Faith Marie
“I was going through it emotionally and I felt like I did not have anyone to talk to until I came across Talkspace. Therapy has really helped me”
— Ashanti
How Talkspace works
How it works
Get startedWhy teens are into Talkspace
"As I started opening up and talking about my issues, I felt strength, not vulnerability; and when I discovered I could speak with a therapist by text, web, or video—wherever I might be—it was an amazing feeling of empowerment."
—Michael Phelps
Talkspace has been named a top service for teens
Talkspace is “Best Overall” Online Teen Counseling Program
Best Text-Based Online Therapy for Teens in 2023
Best Online Teen Therapy for Unlimited Texting
Anxiety or worrying
Relationships
Family conflict
School stress
Sadness or depression
Friendship drama
Body image or eating habits
Drug or alcohol use
Mood disorders
Childhood abuse
Grief and loss
Traumatic experiences
Sexual or gender identity
Racial, ethnic, or cultural identity
Social media use
Bullying
Tough transitions
Anything that’s on your mind
The topics you can talk (or text) about
You can tell your Talkspace therapist anything (honestly anything) and they’ll listen without judging. These are just a few of the areas where our therapists can provide teens with expert guidance and support.
Get started
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Talkspace therapists licensed?
Absolutely. Our national network features thousands of licensed therapists across all 50 U.S. states and Canada. On average, Talkspace therapists have 9 years of experience as professional mental health care providers, and have been carefully vetted and trained to use our platform.
Many Talkspace therapists are trained in multiple areas of expertise, and have experience treating different mental health conditions including:
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Addiction
- Depression
- Grief
- Trauma
- Mood disorders
Do I need permission from my parents/guardian?
The vast majority of U.S. states require parent/guardian consent for a teen under 18 to start therapy. Your parent will need to affirm their consent both via video message (with you present), and via text message, all on the Talkspace app. Our Consultation Therapists and Customer Support team can provide more detail about the step-by-step requirements for this process.
Can my parents/guardian access my therapy “room”?
Only if you show it to them directly, as all of our therapists adhere to strict ethical codes regarding client confidentiality. However, if you want your parent/guardian to be able to ask your therapist directly about your progress, you will need to say so, and consent to your therapist sharing this information.
How do I tell my parents I need therapy?
If you're struggling with your mental health, online counseling services can help you deal with whatever you're experiencing. If you're wondering how to tell your parents you need therapy, explore these tips to help you prepare:
- Plan out the conversation and practice what you want to say
- Find the right time to talk
- Do some research on the mental health concerns you're experiencing
- Be honest about your feelings
- Express your thoughts in a letter or an email beforehand
Can teens benefit from online therapy?
A lot of change happens during the teenage years. Prioritizing mental health is just as important as grades, accomplishments, or college admissions. With Talkspace, we help young adults find an online therapist they feel safe with to work through various challenges and mental health concerns.
Whether it's managing anxiety or depression, navigating stress, or overcoming trauma, many people use counseling services to help them work through something in their life. Know that asking for help is the first step to overcoming your obstacles, and working with a mental health professional is a sign of courage and strength.
How do I reach my therapist on Talkspace?
Send your online therapist unlimited text, video, picture and audio messages via web browser or the Talkspace mobile app — from anywhere, at any time. Yup: no need to worry about scheduling appointments, commuting to an office, or taking time away from work or school. Learn more about how unlimited messaging therapy works:
- Text-based: A text-based counseling session is as effective as traditional in-person treatment. You can message your therapist 24/7 — no need to wait to get something off your mind.
- Audio: Don’t feel like texting? Leave an audio message. Quickly record a message to your therapist and receive responses in the same way.
- Video: Show your therapist how you’re feeling with unlimited video messages. Record a video and share your message, or engage in a live face-to-face virtual therapy session.
How much does it cost to use Talkspace?
There are several payment options to choose from. Many insurance plans cover the cost of online therapy for teens, making Talkspace an accessible and affordable form of mental health treatment. Talkspace currently accepts insurance from Premera, Cigna, Optum, Gatorcare, Aetna, and more. Learn more about insurance coverage for online therapy at Talkspace.
Even if you don't have a health insurance plan that covers mental health services, Talkspace is about 80% more affordable than most face-to-face therapy sessions. Your parent or guardian’s workplace may offer Talkspace for free as a benefit or as part of an employee assistance program (EAP) designed to help employees access therapy and counseling services at very low to no cost. Your parents’ workplace may offer these benefits to dependents (aka you) as well.
If you choose to pay out-of-pocket, all Talkspace plans are recurring subscriptions billed automatically with a frequency chosen by you when you sign up. See approximate out-of-pocket pricing for Talkspace plans below:
- Messaging therapy: starting at $69 USD per week
- Video + Messaging therapy: starting at $99 USD per week
- Video + Messaging and Workshops: starting at $109 USD per week
Is online counseling with Talkspace safe, secure, and confidential?
At Talkspace, privacy is a top priority. Like our adult members, teens can connect with a licensed mental health professional through online real-time therapy sessions and/or communicate in a secure, private room that is available 24/7. To ensure your data is only readable by you and your Talkspace therapist, we securely store and encrypt all client communication and undergo regular security audits. Talkspace technology is fully compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and our therapists adhere to strict professional and ethical client confidentiality codes.
To further protect confidentiality according to HIPAA, we require all users to create a unique nickname during the registration process, which is only shared with their therapists. When you login, Talkspace requires that members enter a two-factor authentication (2FA) code in addition to their password at login. Members using the Talkspace app have the additional option of adding a passcode, which is required each time the app is accessed.
We deploy a variety of techniques to help protect your privacy. Talkspace will not share or disclose your personal information to anyone, however, we do require every user to submit emergency contact information, which is only utilized according to safety and reporting mandates.
Is Talkspace as effective as traditional therapy?
Yes! Talkspace online therapy is proven to be as effective, if not more effective than traditional face-to-face therapy. In a recent study of Talkspace users, 93% of participants reported improvement on their toughest problems in as little as 2 months. In fact, in the same study, 90% of respondents said they preferred Talkspace to traditional therapy.
While online therapy is not trying to replace in-person therapy, it can be a better fit for thousands of people. Benefits of online therapy for teens include:
- Having access to a wide range of mental health professionals
- Accessing your online therapy session from wherever you are
- Being able to communicate with your licensed therapist virtually via text, audio, or video
Learn more from studies on how Talkspace improves mental health concerns.
