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Online depression therapy for kids, teens, and parents

Evidence-based therapy that helps kids rediscover joy, resilience, and connection.

Support for persistent sadness, withdrawal, irritability, and loss of motivation.

Insurance accepted. Appointments often available within days.

Covered by insurance · Licensed specialists · Start within 48 hours

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Covered by insurance · Licensed specialists · Start within 48 hours

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4.94
10k+ satisfied kids,
teens, & families
Insurance providers Emora accepts

Depression, at a glance

4.4%

About 4.4% of children ages 3-17 are diagnosed with depression in the U.S.

Often missed

Depression in children frequently hides behind irritability, anger, and behavioral changes.

Highly treatable

Over 70% of children with depression respond positively to evidence-based therapy.

Understanding depression

What depression looks like and how it affects daily life.

A young boy wearing a blue and white striped shirt sits on a sofa, looking down intently at something in front of him. An adult's hands are gently placed on his leg, suggesting a supportive and comforting interaction in a relaxed indoor setting.A young girl with long, light brown hair sits at a desk, concentrating while writing or drawing and resting her chin in her hand. She appears focused and thoughtful, likely in a classroom or study environment.A close-up portrait of a young boy with short hair and freckles, looking down with a contemplative expression in a softly lit indoor setting. He appears to be deep in thought.
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Persistent low mood

Sadness, emptiness, or irritability lasting two weeks or more. Children may appear angry rather than sad.

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Loss of interest

Withdrawal from activities, friends, and hobbies they once enjoyed. Declining motivation and energy.

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Cognitive changes

Difficulty concentrating, negative self-talk, feelings of worthlessness, and trouble making decisions.

Depression in children is more than sadness. It is a persistent mood disorder that affects thinking, feeling, and daily functioning across school, home, and social life.

A licensed clinician evaluates mood patterns across settings and considers overlapping conditions like anxiety or ADHD.

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Common signs of depression by age

Symptoms look different at every stage of development.

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  • Young Children (4-7)

    Persistent irritability

    Loss of interest in play

    Clinginess and separation distress

    Regression in skills

  • School-Age (8-12)

    Declining grades

    Withdrawal from friends

    Persistent boredom

    Increased irritability

  • Teens (13-17)

    Social isolation

    Academic decline

    Sleep and appetite changes

    Hopelessness or self-harm talk

  • Young Adults (18-25)

    Chronic fatigue and low motivation

    Difficulty maintaining routines

    Relationship withdrawal

    Substance use as coping

Could it be depression?

Take a quick, clinically validated screening to better understand your child’s symptoms.

PHQ-9 Depression Screening

The PHQ-9 is a clinically validated questionnaire used to identify symptoms of depression. While it can be a helpful starting point, research shows that teens often don’t disclose how they’re truly feeling to their parents — in one study, over half of adolescent depression cases were missed when relying on parent report alone (Baumgartner et al., 2021). For this reason, the PHQ-9 is most effective when administered by a trained clinician who can build rapport and interpret the results in context.

This screening is not a diagnosis and is not a substitute for a professional clinical evaluation.

Take the PHQ-9 Screening
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How depression therapy helps

Evidence-based strategies for rebuilding mood, motivation, and daily functioning.

  • Challenges negative thought patterns
  • Rebuilds engagement with activities and people
  • Improves emotional regulation
  • Strengthens coping and problem-solving skills
  • Supports school and social functioning
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Why families choose Emora

Specialized pediatric depression care vs. general providers.

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Other providers

Licensed clinicians for kids, teens, and parents

Generalist providers

Evidence-based CBT and interpersonal therapy

One-size-fits-all approaches

Parent-inclusive model

Limited parent involvement

PHQ-9 screening and progress tracking

Limited progress visibility

Insurance accepted

Insurance not always accepted

Coordination with prescribers if needed

Therapy and medication managed separately

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Get started in minutes

Three simple steps to connect with the right clinician.

  • 1

    Share what’s going on

    Answer a few questions about symptoms and goals.

  • 2

    Verify coverage

    See insurance estimates and available times.

  • 3

    Start sessions

    Meet your clinician and begin building skills.

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Frequently asked questions

What parents ask most about depression therapy.

Sadness is a normal emotion that comes and goes. Depression is persistent — lasting two weeks or more — and affects how your child functions at school, at home, and with friends. Signs include withdrawal, irritability, loss of interest, sleep changes, and hopelessness. You don't need a diagnosis to reach out.

Yes. Depression can affect children at any age, though it often looks different in younger children. Instead of expressing sadness, young children may become irritable, clingy, or complain of physical symptoms like stomachaches.

Most children begin to feel improvement within 8–12 sessions. The total duration depends on the severity of symptoms, your child's response to therapy, and their individual goals.

Yes — family involvement is central to our approach. You'll receive regular updates, learn strategies to support your child at home, and have opportunities to participate in family sessions when appropriate.

Yes, we accept most major insurance plans and verify your coverage upfront. Most families pay between $0 and $30 per session with insurance.

Resistance is very common with depression — low motivation is part of the condition. Our therapists are skilled at engaging reluctant children in a warm, non-pressuring way. Most children are glad they started once they experience the support.

Absolutely. For moderate to severe depression, therapy and medication often work best together. Our therapists collaborate with your child's prescriber to ensure coordinated, effective care.

Real stories of growth

Every session is rated by parents. Our therapists maintain a 4.9+ average, because results matter.

Very easy to talk to. First session was fun and she made my son feel very comfortable. He’s excited about therapy

Parent of a 9 year old

Aug 29, 2026

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Tameka Johnson
Provider:

Tameka Johnson, LPC

Dr. Bell made this so easy for my son and myself. He was easy to talk to and gave us great insight into this whole process and what our forward path could look like.

Parent of a 12 year old

Aug 29, 2026

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Dr. Joel Bell
Provider:

Dr. Joel Bell, PhD

its always a great feeling leaving each session knowing i understand more about myself than i did going in

An Adult client

Aug 29, 2026

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Catherine Campos
Provider:

Catherine Campos, LCSW

I am amazed and extremely grateful for Elsie, not only is she caring, empathetic and patient but also just an amazing person. My son has just completed session 10 and I am noticing he has started to become his own person with his own feelings and is showing so much more self confidence. I am truly grateful for everything she has done for us so far and excited for future endeavors.

Parent of a 12 year old

Aug 29, 2026

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Elsie Peña
Provider:

Elsie Peña, LPC

Very patient and proactive. Stays consistent with his messaging and helps me relate worries to relevant techniques.

An Adult client

Aug 29, 2026

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Mark Wallman
Provider:

Mark Wallman, LPC

She made my daughter feel seen and very comfortable. She loved the session

Parent of a 12 year old

Aug 28, 2026

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Had my 13 year olds first session today. He did not want to attend so I bribed him and told him to do it today and he wouldn’t have to go to the next one until 3 weeks. After the session ended, he came into my room and asked if we could schedule it sooner than 3 weeks. I’m glad we found this therapist!

Parent of a 13 year old

Aug 28, 2026

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Franklin Williams
Provider:

Franklin Williams, LCMHC

Listening and understanding what’s happening and also being very helpful

Parent of a 17 year old

Aug 28, 2026

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Samantha Fernandez
Provider:

Samantha Fernandez, LMHC

Aminah Todman was created for her position. I never imagined being as comfortable as I am so early on. I’m nervous, a bit anxious but also excited for the work ahead.

An Adult client

Aug 28, 2026

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Aminah Todman
Provider:

Aminah Todman, LCSW

She was very friendly, made me feel comfortable, she practiced empathy and understanding.looking forward to more sessions.

An Adult client

Aug 28, 2026

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Aminah Todman
Provider:

Aminah Todman, LCSW

Ms. Coleman was absolutely wonderful! She is extremely knowledgeable, professional, and compassionate. What impressed me most was her firsthand experience with my condition and her ability to offer practical, proven methods that I can actually use to make meaningful progress. I immediately felt that I was in capable hands and that she genuinely understood what I’m going through. I’m very grateful for her guidance .

An Adult client

Aug 28, 2026

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Cecilia Coleman
Provider:

Cecilia Coleman, LPC-A

The session was overall very helpful and i enjoyed talking with Liz. She walked me through each question and even related on some topics. She is very flexible and understanding and will assist with scheduling when she can.

An Adult client

Aug 28, 2026

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Dr. Liz Nitsch
Provider:

Dr. Liz Nitsch, PsyD

Raul was very professional and attentive to my son’s needs. I look forward to seeing how these sessions progress

Parent of an 11 year old

Aug 28, 2026

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Raul Martinez
Provider:

Raul Martinez, LPC

Great listener very attentive great feedback

An Adult client

Aug 28, 2026

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Barbara Graham
Provider:

Barbara Graham, LCSW-A

I scheduled the start of an assessment, and the counselor my son was paired with does not assess ADHD or Autism patients. Whole I would like Karson to be paired with him for familiarity, I would like my son assessed by someone who specializes in ADHD and Autism, which is why I chose your group.

Parent of a 9 year old

Aug 28, 2026

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Jahn Quattlebaum
Provider:

Jahn Quattlebaum, LPC

Diana was amazing and a very good listener. My 6yo loved her!

Parent of a 6 year old

Aug 28, 2026

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Diana Gaona
Provider:

Diana Gaona, LPC

I love how she challenges you to open up and just think

An Adult client

Aug 28, 2026

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Ronnie Roper
Provider:

Ronnie Roper, LCSW

She’s so sweet and understanding, and I deal with stress and anger so much better.

Parent of a 15 year old

Aug 28, 2026

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Tonya Coleman Seimears
Provider:

Tonya Coleman Seimears, LCSW

Depression does not define your child

Structured, developmentally informed therapy can help build skills that last.

Not sure where to start? Book a clinical matching session.

Find a clinician
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Free screening: Depression screening (PHQ-9 / PHQ-A)

9 questions with validated severity bands for teens and adults. Takes about 2 minutes; results are immediate and private.

All mental health assessments

Take the screener