Parents face many difficult but important conversations with their teens, especially those in college. Over the past several years, mental health conditions have been growing more common among teens. We’ve come a long way toward ending the stigma. However, conversations about seeking treatment are still difficult, especially if you don’t have much experience navigating mental health care yourself. Virtual Intensive Outpatient Programs (vIOP) are a new solution making treatment more accessible, affordable, and discreet for college-aged teens. 

Early intervention will help ensure your child achieves the best possible outcomes in both the short and long term. Many young people are resistant to the idea at first, and it’s perfectly normal for them to have some questions and concerns. With some thoughtful planning, preparation, and honesty, you can show your child you’re on their side and help them see the potential benefits of trying a Virtual IOP. 

In this article, we’ll share some tips on how to talk to your child about starting a Virtual IOP. 

Choose the right time and setting 

As children grow older and gain independence, there’s often more happening under the surface that you may not know about as a parent. Maintaining your teen’s trust is critical, and to do that, you need to create a safe space for them to share. Try to find a time to talk when they’re feeling calm and receptive, and avoid times when they’re feeling agitated or likely to be distracted. Choose a private and comfortable environment. You might let them know ahead of time that you want to check in on how they’ve been doing and have a heart-to-heart. 

Use collaborative language, not confrontational 

To open up the conversation, you might remind them that you care about how they’re feeling and tell them something positive about themselves. Let them know what behaviors you’re noticing that aren’t like them, but try to be objective and avoid judgmental language. Instead of “you always,” say “I’ve noticed.” Then ask if they can share what’s happening from their point of view. Let them give you their complete answer before moving forward. 

If they open up and share something with you, validate their feelings and thank them for being honest. Then you can talk through the situation with them and try to find an agreement on what challenges they’re facing and what solutions might be helpful. 

Explain Virtual IOP benefits and address your child’s concerns

Many college-aged teens are open to talking about mental health topics, and many are concerned with the stigma around having a condition or seeking treatment. It’s common and natural to have mixed feelings. Once you’ve noticed signs that they may be struggling emotionally—such as changes in mood, behavior, or stress levels—you might ask how they’d feel about talking with a therapist or exploring other treatment options. Hear them out so you can address any of their concerns together. Then you can introduce the idea of Virtual IOP for college students.

Tell them there are virtual programs that offer more extensive treatment than typical outpatient therapy — they can log in from home or their dorm, and no one else has to know they’re receiving treatment. If they attended school virtually during the pandemic, it’s very similar to that. 

Tell them they can still go to college as usual and that they’ll have group sessions with other people their age. They’ll also meet with a therapist individually once a week and that you’ll join them for weekly family therapy sessions. This way you can learn about their mental health condition and how you can best support them. See our FAQ page for answers to common questions or contact us directly.

Some of the most common questions and concerns we hear from teens are:

• What if my friends and professors find out I’m in treatment? 
• Will my care providers share anything I say with my parents?
• Will this affect my grades or my ability to keep up with my class?
• How do I know this is going to work or be worth my time?
• Will I be forced to do things I don’t want to do?
• Does this mean there’s something wrong with me? Will going to treatment change who I am?

Lightfully vIOP offers personalized and approachable mental health care

College-aged teens are becoming more and more receptive to conversations about their mental health. Even if your child is resistant at first, making an effort to understand their point of view and work toward a solution together will make a big difference. 

As a parent, you can help your child understand the importance of being proactive about their mental health and seeking the appropriate level of treatment from licensed clinicians. Approaching the conversation about Virtual IOP with empathy and collaboration helps them feel supported rather than criticized in their mental health journey. 

Each college student needs treatment that’s tailored to fit their personality and their needs. At Lightfully, our licensed clinicians use a framework called Precision Care Model (PCM) to create treatment plans for the whole person. They make mental health conversations approachable and relevant for college-aged teens. Our vIOP will help them develop the personalized skill set they need to care for themselves. 

Do you need more support in getting a conversation started or exploring your options? We’re here to help. Reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team or contact us today.