# Can group therapy be done online? Canonical: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-group-therapy-be-done-online Publisher: Pinnacle Blooms Network / Bharath Healthcare Laboratories Private Limited 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. *When getting to a centre is hard, the warmth and connection of group therapy can still reach your child right at home.* ## In short Yes — 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. ## How online group therapy works - **Small, matched groups** — children of similar age and goals join a video session, so every child gets attention and the group stays manageable. - **Structured, playful activities** — the therapist leads turn-taking games, storytelling, role-play and group challenges that naturally invite social communication, listening and cooperation. - **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. - **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. - **A calm, familiar space** — some children open up more from the comfort of home, with fewer sensory surprises than a new room. Online 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. ## When in-person may suit better If 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. ## The Pinnacle way AbilityScore® 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. ## Trusted sources American Speech-Language-Hearing Association guidance on telepractice and group intervention; American Academy of Pediatrics family resources (HealthyChildren.org) on developmental support. **Next step —** Wondering whether online group therapy fits your child? [Book an assessment with a Pinnacle clinician](/) to find the right format. This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional. ## Sources - ASHA — Telepractice guidance: https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/professional-issues/telepractice/ - AAP — HealthyChildren.org: https://www.healthychildren.org/ ## Connected topics and perspectives - Therapies: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/therapies - Parent: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/parent - Social: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/domain/social - Support: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/intent/support - Plan: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/lifecycle/plan - Behaviour Therapy: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/route/behaviour-therapy - Family Empowerment: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/empowerment/family_empowerment ## Related question paths ### Understand the subject - At what age can a child start group therapy?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/at-what-age-can-a-child-start-group-therapy - How does group therapy help a child develop?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-does-group-therapy-help-a-child-develop - Is group therapy backed by research evidence?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-group-therapy-backed-by-research-evidence - What is group therapy?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-group-therapy - Which children benefit most from group therapy?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/which-children-benefit-most-from-group-therapy ### Explore therapy & support - Can play therapy be done online?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-play-therapy-be-done-online - Can therapy be done online, and does it work?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-therapy-be-done-online-and-does-it-work - Can social skills training be done online?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-social-skills-training-be-done-online - How does online child development therapy work?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-does-online-child-development-therapy-work - Can online therapy help if we live far from a centre?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-online-therapy-help-if-we-live-far-from-a-centre - Can speech and language therapy be done online?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-speech-and-language-therapy-be-done-online - Are there any risks or side effects of group therapy?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/are-there-any-risks-or-side-effects-of-group-therapy - Can group therapy be combined with other therapies?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-group-therapy-be-combined-with-other-therapies - How Many Group Therapy Sessions Does a Child Need?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-many-sessions-of-group-therapy-does-a-child-usually-need - Is group therapy one-on-one or in a group?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-group-therapy-usually-one-on-one-or-in-a-group - What goals does group therapy work on?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-goals-does-group-therapy-work-on - What happens during group therapy sessions?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-happens-during-group-therapy-sessions ### At home & in everyday life - How can I support group therapy goals at home?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-support-group-therapy-goals-at-home ### Follow progress - How is a child's progress measured in group therapy?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-is-a-child-s-progress-measured-in-group-therapy - How long does group therapy take to show results?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-long-does-group-therapy-take-to-show-results - What progress can I expect from group therapy?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-progress-can-i-expect-from-group-therapy - What progress can a child with ADHD make with group therapy?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-progress-can-a-child-with-adhd-make-with-group-therapy - What progress can a child with Autism Spectrum make with group therapy?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-progress-can-a-child-with-autism-spectrum-make-with-group-therapy - What progress can a child with childhood anxiety make with group therapy?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-progress-can-a-child-with-childhood-anxiety-make-with-group-therapy - What progress can a child with Social Communication Difficulties make with group therapy?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-progress-can-a-child-with-social-communication-difficulties-make-with-group-therapy ### Choose and access care - How do I find a good provider of group therapy for my child?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-do-i-find-a-good-provider-of-group-therapy-for-my-child - What does group therapy cost, and what affects the price?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-group-therapy-typically-cost-and-what-affects-the-price - What qualifications should a group therapy therapist have?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-qualifications-should-a-therapist-providing-group-therapy-have