What to expect in a first online therapy session

Booking your child's first session is a big step — and if you've never done therapy over a screen before, it's normal to wonder whether it really works, and what you're supposed to do. The short version: online therapy is well-studied, your therapist does the heavy lifting, and your job is mostly to be nearby and follow their lead.

Does online therapy actually work for kids?

It's a fair question. The research is reassuring: a systematic review of telehealth-delivered speech and language intervention for primary school-age children found that children made improvements similar to those seen with in-person sessions.^[] A broader 2025 review of telehealth early intervention reached the same conclusion — that it's a viable alternative to in-person care for young children with developmental needs and their families.^[]

What makes it work isn't the screen — it's the therapist's plan and your involvement. Online sessions lean on a coaching model, where the clinician guides you to practise strategies with your child in your own home, the place they're most comfortable.^[]

Before the session

You don't need special equipment — a laptop, tablet, or phone with a camera and a stable internet connection is enough. A few minutes beforehand:

• Pick a quiet-ish spot where your child can see the screen and you can sit alongside them.
• Have a couple of favourite toys or a snack nearby — the therapist may ask you to use them.
• Test the link from your dashboard so you're not troubleshooting at the start time.

If your child wanders off-camera in the first few minutes, that's completely fine. Therapists who work with children expect it and plan around it.

What actually happens

The first session is mostly about getting to know your child and what you're hoping to work on. Your therapist will usually:

1. Chat with you about your child's history, strengths, and what's prompting the referral.
2. Play and interact with your child to see how they communicate, move, or respond.
3. Talk through early goals and what the next few sessions might look like.

It feels more like a guided play session than a clinical exam — which is exactly the point.

Your role as a parent

This is the part that surprises people. In online sessions you're not a bystander; you're often the therapist's hands. They might ask you to hold up an object, model a sound, or gently prompt your child while they coach you in real time. That hands-on involvement is one of the reasons telehealth works so well for young children — the skills get practised in your everyday routine, not just in a clinic room.^[]

After the session

You'll usually finish with a clear sense of what's next: a short summary, a goal or two, and often a small "home practice" activity to try before the next session. At Hey Sprout you'll see your therapist's notes, your goals, and any home practice on your dashboard, so nothing depends on remembering it all in the moment.

A quick word on NDIS funding

For the evidence behind online sessions, see what the research says about online therapy for kids.

If your child has an NDIS plan, therapy is typically funded under Capacity Building supports — and for children under 9, the early-childhood pathway is designed to get support in place early.^[] You can use Hey Sprout on a self-managed or plan-managed plan. Agency-managed? Ask the NDIA or your LAC about plan management.

Whenever you're ready, booking takes a few minutes and you'll pick a time that suits your family.