FAQs
General
What happens during the consult call?
Your 30-minute consult is a chance to share what’s going on for your child, learn about Handspring’s approach, and see if we’re the right fit.
We’ll walk through your goals, answer questions, and outline what care could look like for your family.
Do I need a doctor’s referral?
No referral is needed. Parents and caregivers can book directly with us — it only takes a few minutes.
Are sessions virtual or in person?
All sessions are 100% virtual. Your child can meet their therapist from home or any private space that’s comfortable and convenient.
What is Handspring?
Handspring is a full-spectrum mental health practice serving children, young adults, and their families. We provide personalized virtual therapy designed to build lifelong coping and confidence skills and give parents peace of mind.
What services do you provide?
We provide three core services:
Therapy
Individual therapy for children, teens, and young adults, delivered by independently licensed providers using proven approaches like CBT.
Medication
When appropriate, medication management is provided as part of a comprehensive care plan in close coordination with the therapy team and family.
Parenting support
Parent training sessions, as well as therapy for parents, to help you manage behavior, build connection, and support your child’s progress while taking care of your own mental health.
What age range do you treat?
We provide virtual therapy for the following ages:
- Children ages 8-12
- Teenagers ages 13-17
- Young adults ages 18-29
- Parents of children over 2 (For parent coaching)
Do you prescribe medication or offer medication management support?
Yes. We provide medication management as needed alongside therapy, combining evidence-based treatments, behavioral interventions, and medication to support young people's mental health.
Where is Handspring available?
Handspring is available in California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington.
When do sessions take place?
Our virtual sessions can be scheduled at your convenience. To ensure that care fits into your family’s schedule, our therapists offer convenient after-school appointment times.
Care
What challenges do you help with?
We treat a wide range of challenges across areas like anxiety and worries, depression and mood, behavioral difficulties, and adjustments and transitions.
Anxiety & Worries
- Social anxiety
- Generalized anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Specific phobias
Mood & Emotions
- Sadness or low mood
- Depression
- Irritability
- Loneliness or withdrawal
Behavior & Regulation
- Tantrums
- Defiance
- Impulsivity
- ADHD
Obsessions & Compulsions
- OCD
- Obsessions or intrusive thoughts
Life Events & Transitions
- School or Move transitions
- Bullying
- Trauma
- PTSD
- Grief and loss
- Parent Divorce
- Major life changes
Parenting & Family Dynamics
- Parent–child communication
- Parenting challenges
Parenting challenges As part of our commitment to family-centered care, we also offer therapy for parents and caregivers of children over 2.
What is your clinical approach?
Our therapists primarily use CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), the gold-standard, first-line treatment for anxiety, depression, and other common mental health challenges. Centered on skills-based CBT, our evidence-based approach helps young people better understand their thoughts, manage their emotions, and build lasting coping strategies that support emotional and behavioral well-being.
The key elements of our approach include:
- Age-appropriate skill-building
- Collaborative and active participation
- Parental involvement
- Strengths-based perspective
- Progress tracking and feedback
You can learn more about our approach here.
Who are your therapists?
Our licensed therapists and clinicians are experts who are specially trained to work with children and adolescents across all stages of development. We believe that the quality of care starts with the quality of the clinicians delivering it, so our therapists aren’t freelancers — they’re employees who are deeply invested in our mission and your child’s progress. And because better-supported therapists mean better outcomes, they work collaboratively as part of a clinical team.
Every Handspring therapist is:
- A licensed mental health provider (LCSW, LMHC, LPC, LMFT, Psychologist, etc.)
- Experienced in child, teen, or young adult care
- Employed by Handspring
- Trained in CBT, behavioral skills work, and parenting interventions
- Carefully matched to your child based on age, symptoms, and goals
- Supported through ongoing clinical oversight and supervision
You can learn more about our therapists here.
Can I talk to my child’s therapist between sessions?
Absolutely - we see parents as essential partners in the therapy process. We encourage regular check-ins with your child’s therapist between sessions so you can stay in the loop and feel supported every step of the way.
Is virtual therapy as effective as in-person care?
Yes. For the most common mental health challenges in children and teens, including anxiety, depression, and trauma, virtual therapy is clinically proven to be just as effective as in-person care.
Why would I need parenting support?
Parenting is complex, and caring for a child with emotional or behavioral challenges can be overwhelming. Many parents find that parenting support gives them the skills and confidence they need to respond effectively to their child’s unique needs and improve the quality of the parent-child relationship.
Can I set boundaries for what’s discussed in therapy?
Absolutely. The consult call is your opportunity to share your family’s goals, preferences, and any boundaries you’d like your therapist to respect. We’ll ensure your child’s care aligns with your family’s values and comfort level.
What is your approach to parenting support?
Our licensed therapists provide parents with evidence-based strategies for supporting children, adolescents, and young adults with a range of difficulties. When disruptive behavior is the primary concern, we use BPT (behavioral parent training), or Parent Coaching, to give parents the tools to manage and prevent these behaviors. Treatment is problem-focused and highly interactive, as skills are both taught and then modeled by the therapist, as well as role-played with parents.
This interactive approach promotes confidence and mastery so that parents can implement skills in real-world, high-stress moments.
Billing
Do you accept insurance?
Yes. We are in-network with the following providers:
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Aetna
- Oscar
- United Healthcare
- Optum
- Cigna
- AmeriHealth
Before services start, we’ll look up your benefits and inform you of your copay. Most Handspring families pay less than $30 per session. (That number reflects all patient payment responsibilities, including copays, deductibles, coinsurance, and $0 visits. No-show appointments are not included, and actual costs may vary depending on your coverage.)
We currently do not accept any Medicaid, CHIP, or other state-based health plans.
How much do your services cost without insurance?
Your first consultation with our intake team is free, and sessions cost $125 after that ($175 in CA). If you’re paying out of pocket, you’ll get the same exact care and support as you would with insurance coverage.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We collect credit or debit card details before sessions begin. Your card is charged after each session.
Do you accept FSA/HSA?
Yes. If you have a healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or a Health Savings Account (HSA), you can use it as a form of payment — just input your FSA or HSA card number in our credit card form. Alternatively, you can use any credit or debit card, then get reimbursed by your FSA or HSA.
My insurance provides out-of-network benefits. Can you provide a superbill?
Yes, we’re happy to provide a superbill. For help, email support@handspringhealth.com.