Helping your child thrive in virtual sessions

Virtual therapy and coaching sessions are a powerful way to get support while allowing children to feel safe and comfortable opening up in their own environment. And as a parent, it’s completely normal to wonder if your child will show up to virtual sessions in a focused and meaningful way.  

At Bend, we’ve found that young people are fully capable of feeling empowered and engaged during virtual sessions and we want to help set your family up for success. Here is how you can set the stage for an enjoyable and productive experience.

Preparing your child for their virtual session 

• Open up the conversation: Take time to talk about the process with your child before their first session, managing their expectations and helping them understand the value of having another trusted adult to support them and the entire family. Talk through what type of support you’d like from the Bend team in an age-appropriate way and invite your child to share what their goals are too. Make time to listen to and validate any concerns they have without judgement.
• Find a dedicated space: Set up a consistent, quiet, and comfortable area that will be free of distractions for each session. To help your child feel at home, consider letting your child choose a favorite blanket, stuffed animal, or comfortable chair for the session.
  
  
• Prioritize privacy. Remember that privacy is important, so make sure you are in a location where you can speak comfortably without others overhearing your conversation.
  
  
• Prep your tech. Check your internet bandwidth, test your camera, prepare your keyboard, and be sure the audio is working properly. To ensure a smooth connection, ask other family members to avoid heavy gaming or streaming during the session. Consider using a laptop stand or books to keep the camera at eye level, making it feel like a natural, face-to-face conversation.
• Create a transition ritual: Help your child switch gears by incorporating a five-minute pre-session routine, like having a snack, doing a quick stretch, or having some quiet time to journal, read, or draw.
  
  
• Maintain a consistent routine: Aim to keep the environment and timing of each session the same to help your child feel secure.

Tips for encouraging participation during sessions

• Build in breaks if needed. Work with your Bend Care Team to build in movement breaks, like stretching or wiggling, to help maintain focus.
  
  
• Provide a fidget kit. To help your child focus, bring in small fidget toys to help keep their hands busy during sessions. Here is a guide to help you determine the right kind of fidget to incorporate.
  
  
• Find moments of connection. With your coach or therapist’s permission, encourage your child to "show and tell" one item from their room or a piece of art they’ve created to build rapport.
  
  
• Model positive behavior. Be sure to put away your phone so that you can be fully present for sessions. 

Navigating life after the session 

• Take time to gently debrief. When the session ends, provide positive reinforcement by saying something like, "I'm proud of you for showing up today."
  
  
• Build in a cool down. Give your child a few minutes of quiet time to decompress before jumping back into homework or family chores. 

Frequently asked questions

• What if my child refuses to talk? Don’t worry, this happens sometimes! Bend providers are experts at helping a child feel more comfortable quickly. So rather than jumping in and forcing your child to speak up, let their coach or therapist take the lead in building trust.
  
  
• What if my child gets distracted? Try to eliminate as many distractions as possible by creating a clutter-free, quiet zone and silencing all notifications on your devices. Our coaches and therapists are experts in redirecting focus back to the sessions.
  
  
• What if we have a tech glitch during the session? It happens! If the connection drops, try logging back in right away and reach out to your Care Team if you need support. The goal is to keep the experience as low-stress for your family as possible. 

Remember that it may take your child some time to fully open up and progress isn’t always linear. Some days your child will be more talkative than others and that’s okay. Bend coaches and therapists are especially trained to navigate silence and resistance, so rest assured that it is all part of the growth process. 

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