Virtual care for kids and teens: Why it works

As a pediatric provider, you know the barriers families face when seeking mental health support: months-long waitlists, the logistical headache of mid-day appointments, and the clinical anxiety that can make kids shut down. 

At Bend Health, we’ve reimagined mental health care to meet kids and teens where they feel most comfortable. Through virtual appointments, families can access convenient care that fits into their busy schedules while achieving superior outcomes. 

The power of environmental familiarity 

Telehealth research demonstrates comparable therapeutic alliance and engagement outcomes to in-person care for youth. In fact, video sessions often allow kids to open up faster because they are in their own familiar environment.

When children participate from home, they experience reduced initial anxiety. This allows our clinicians to spend less time on environmental acclimation and more time on meaningful therapeutic work from minute one.

A customized approach for every developmental stage 

Delivering care virtually to kids and teens requires creativity, and that’s built into our model. Bend clinicians adapt their evidence-based techniques to suit the specific developmental needs of each age group. And many of the same engagement strategies used in in-person therapy translate very effectively into the virtual environment.

For children (ages 1–12): Incorporating play and imagination 

Many providers wonder if younger children can stay engaged virtually and the answer is they can and they are having fun in the process! By utilizing structured, remote-first tools, we transform the session into a collaborative environment:

• Virtual dollhouse and sandbox: Clinicians use these interactive tools to help children express complex feelings and tell stories through creative play.
  
  
• Bend Buddies™: Our exclusive cast of characters helps families develop a shared language for core emotions.
  
  
• Interactive games: Tools like the Bend Buddy Wheel encourage children to identify feelings and connect emotions to behaviors through screen-shared play.
  
  
• Caregiver integration: Virtual care allows parents to participate more easily, learning real-time coping strategies they can implement at home.

For teens & young adults (ages 13+): Building trust and honoring privacy 

For teens and young adults, virtual therapy feels natural and offers a safe space to connect. For this group, virtual care offers: 

• Enhanced independence: Teens can engage from their own safe space, giving them a sense of control over their healing journey.
  
  
• Seamless integration: Whether they are managing a heavy high school course load or transitioning to college, virtual care fits into their schedule, increasing consistency and reducing "no-shows."

Outcomes that speak for themselves

We believe in data-driven care. When you refer a patient to Bend Health, you aren't just sending them to a platform; you are sending them to a clinical model with proven results:

• 95% symptom improvement: 95% of members demonstrate improved symptoms over baseline.
  
  
• 50% average improvement score: Sustained improvement across all Bend Health members.
  
  
• 80% long-term engagement: 80% of members continue their care journey beyond 5 months.

Beyond the session: Tools to support, every step of the way 

Effective virtual care extends past the session. We provide families with evidence-based tools to support progress between appointments:

• Support between sessions. Members and caregivers can connect with our team anytime through secure chat for support or scheduling help.
  
  
• Learning resources: Members and their families have access to an extensive interactive library of content to help them practice skills between sessions.
• Curated music playlists: Utilizing music therapy elements to help with emotional regulation.
  
  
• Relaxation & breathing exercises: Recorded resources that patients can access anytime they feel overwhelmed.
  
  
• A full continuum of care: Patients can access all levels of care without leaving the Bend ecosystem, ensuring no gaps in support.

We’re here to partner with you 

Our goal is to be a seamless extension of your pediatric practice. By removing the barriers of travel and environmental stress, we help your patients get the care they need, exactly when they need it.

Ready to refer? Learn more about how we partner with pediatricians to provide evidence-based, play-centered virtual care at BendHealth.com/refer. 

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