{"h1":"Can group therapy be done online?","faq":[{"a":"For skills built through conversation and shared play — social communication, confidence and emotional regulation — well-run online groups can be highly effective. Some children even open up more from the comfort of home. For very young children or those needing hands-on physical support, in-person or a blend may suit better; a clinician helps you choose.","q":"Is online group therapy as effective as in-person?"},{"a":"Groups are kept small and matched by age and goals so every child gets attention and the therapist can guide turn-taking smoothly. Your team will recommend the right size for your child's needs.","q":"How many children are in an online group?"},{"a":"For younger children, a parent or carer usually sits nearby to help with the screen and to learn strategies to use in everyday life. Older children often join more independently, with the therapist guiding the session.","q":"Does a parent need to be present during online group therapy?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"can-group-therapy-be-done-online","title":"Can group therapy be done online?","entity":{"key":"group-therapy","kind":"therapy_modality","name":"group therapy","slug":null},"lenses":[{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Parent","value":"parent"},{"kind":"domain","label":"Social","value":"social"},{"kind":"intent","label":"Support","value":"support"},{"kind":"lifecycle","label":"Plan","value":"plan"},{"kind":"route","label":"Behaviour-Therapy","value":"behaviour-therapy"},{"kind":"empowerment","label":"Family Empowerment","value":"family_empowerment"}],"parent":{"key":"therapies","label":"Therapies"},"related":[{"lang":"en","slug":"can-social-skills-training-be-done-online","title":"Can social skills training be done online?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"can-speech-and-language-therapy-be-done-online","title":"Can speech and language therapy be done online?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-online-child-development-therapy-work","title":"How does online child development therapy work?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"can-play-therapy-be-done-online","title":"Can play therapy be done online?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"can-online-therapy-help-if-we-live-far-from-a-centre","title":"Can online therapy help if we live far from a centre?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"can-therapy-be-done-online-and-does-it-work","title":"Can therapy be done online, and does it work?"}],"summary":"Yes, group therapy can be delivered online — a trained therapist guides a small, matched group through shared games, turn-taking and play over video to build social, communication and emotional skills, suiting families for whom travel or scheduling is hard. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.","answer_md":"*When getting to a centre is hard, the warmth and connection of group therapy can still reach your child right at home.*\n\n## In short\nYes — group therapy can be done online, and done well it keeps the heart of what makes groups work: children learning *with* and *from* each other. A trained therapist guides a small online group through shared games, turn-taking, conversation and play over video, building social, communication and emotional skills. It suits many families, especially when distance, travel or scheduling make in-person sessions difficult, and it can blend beautifully with centre visits.\n\n## How online group therapy works\n- **Small, matched groups** — children of similar age and goals join a video session, so every child gets attention and the group stays manageable.\n- **Structured, playful activities** — the therapist leads turn-taking games, storytelling, role-play and group challenges that naturally invite social communication, listening and cooperation.\n- **Live coaching in the moment** — the therapist prompts, models and celebrates each child's contribution, just as in a room, and gently brings quieter children into the flow.\n- **A parent nearby** — for younger children, a parent or carer sits alongside to help with the screen and to learn strategies they can carry into everyday life.\n- **A calm, familiar space** — some children open up more from the comfort of home, with fewer sensory surprises than a new room.\n\nOnline group therapy works best for skills that flow through conversation and shared play — social skills, language practice, confidence and emotional regulation. For very young children, or where lots of hands-on physical support is needed, the therapist may recommend in-person sessions or a thoughtful blend of both.\n\n## When in-person may suit better\nIf your child finds screens overwhelming, is very young, or needs close physical guidance, an in-person or hybrid plan may help more. The right format is always the one that fits *your* child — and a clinician can guide that choice with you.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nAbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional — never from an app or online form. From there, our team shapes the right mix of [group therapy](/) and one-to-one support, online or in person, around your child's [precise profile](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated). Explore how our [behavioural therapy](/behavioural-therapy) programmes build social and communication skills.\n\n## Trusted sources\nAmerican Speech-Language-Hearing Association guidance on telepractice and group intervention; American Academy of Pediatrics family resources (HealthyChildren.org) on developmental support.\n\n**Next step —** Wondering whether online group therapy fits your child? [Book an assessment with a Pinnacle clinician](/) to find the right format.\n\nThis is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.","canonical":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-group-therapy-be-done-online","editorial":{"reviewed_at":"2026-06-11T20:12:18.613642+00:00","reviewed_by":null,"developed_by":"SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network"},"alternates":[{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-group-therapy-be-done-online","lang":"en","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"therapies","label":"Therapies"}],"meta_title":"Can Group Therapy Be Done Online?","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"Set up a quiet, familiar spot with a steady device and few distractions before each online session — a calm space helps your child focus and join in confidently.","published_at":"2026-06-10T13:42:00.152482+00:00","reading_paths":[{"key":"understand","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"at-what-age-can-a-child-start-group-therapy","title":"At what age can a child start group therapy?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-group-therapy-help-a-child-develop","title":"How does group therapy help a child develop?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-group-therapy-backed-by-research-evidence","title":"Is group therapy backed by research evidence?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-group-therapy","title":"What is group therapy?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"which-children-benefit-most-from-group-therapy","title":"Which children benefit most from group therapy?","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Understand the subject","total":5},{"key":"therapy","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"can-play-therapy-be-done-online","title":"Can play therapy be done online?","reason":"Linked from this 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everyday life","total":1},{"key":"progress","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"how-is-a-child-s-progress-measured-in-group-therapy","title":"How is a child's progress measured in group therapy?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-long-does-group-therapy-take-to-show-results","title":"How long does group therapy take to show results?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-progress-can-i-expect-from-group-therapy","title":"What progress can I expect from group therapy?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-progress-can-a-child-with-adhd-make-with-group-therapy","title":"What progress can a child with ADHD make with group therapy?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-progress-can-a-child-with-autism-spectrum-make-with-group-therapy","title":"What progress can a child with Autism Spectrum make with group therapy?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-progress-can-a-child-with-childhood-anxiety-make-with-group-therapy","title":"What progress can a child with childhood anxiety make with group therapy?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-progress-can-a-child-with-social-communication-difficulties-make-with-group-therapy","title":"What progress can a child with Social Communication Difficulties make with group therapy?","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Follow progress","total":7},{"key":"care","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"how-do-i-find-a-good-provider-of-group-therapy-for-my-child","title":"How do I find a good provider of group therapy for my child?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-group-therapy-typically-cost-and-what-affects-the-price","title":"What does group therapy cost, and what affects the price?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-qualifications-should-a-therapist-providing-group-therapy-have","title":"What qualifications should a group therapy therapist have?","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Choose and access care","total":3}],"what_to_watch":"Notice whether your child engages with the screen, takes turns and stays comfortable in a small online group, or seems overwhelmed by video and may do better in person.","authority_links":[{"url":"https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/professional-issues/telepractice/","label":"ASHA — Telepractice guidance"},{"url":"https://www.healthychildren.org/","label":"AAP — HealthyChildren.org"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T13:42:00.152482+00:00","meta_description":"Yes — online group therapy lets children build social, communication and emotional skills through guided video sessions. Learn how it works and when it sui","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}