Online Therapy Games for Telehealth

Making telehealth sessions engaging

Telehealth uses technology to enable remote communication between patients and healthcare providers, allowing individuals to access services like consultations, family therapy, diagnoses, and mental health support from the comfort of their own homes. Through video calls, online platforms, and other digital tools, telehealth eliminates the need for in-person visits, offering convenience and accessibility to therapy and healthcare.

This approach enhances patient outcomes by overcoming barriers such as geographical distance and time constraints, making healthcare services more reachable for everyone. To make telehealth sessions more engaging, incorporating online therapy games can boost client involvement and create a more interactive experience. These games, which range from word association challenges to virtual escape rooms, help enhance communication skills, support cognitive development, and provide fun, effective coping mechanisms.

For families, including children, these online resources offer an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations, work on personal skills, and participate in therapy activities that keep clients focused and comfortable. Just like traditional in-person therapy, telehealth sessions prioritize creating a safe, supportive environment for individuals to express their feelings, but with the added benefit of interactive tools that deepen client engagement and enrich the therapeutic experience.

Key benefits of incorporating online therapy games

There are various benefits to utilizing online games within virtual counseling sessions. Here is a more in-depth look at the benefits clients may endure in these telehealth activities:

Enhanced coping skills

Games create a fun, relaxed setting for practicing coping strategies, allowing clients to develop resilience and manage stress in real-life situations.

Improved communication skills

Games are a natural bridge for observing body language, building rapport, facilitating meaningful conversations, and enhancing the therapeutic relationship.

Stress management

Virtual games provide a space to practice emotional regulation skills, promoting healthier ways to cope with stress and challenges outside of the gaming world.

Engagement across age groups

You can tailor games to suit different ages, from younger children enjoying a classic board game to adolescents participating in more age-appropriate activities that address their unique challenges.

Personalized therapy

Some online games offer a customizable approach, allowing you to adapt their sessions to each client's needs, fostering a more individualized therapeutic experience.

7 Online Therapy Games for Telehealth

Many free interactive games cater to various client needs, making therapy sessions more engaging and accessible. These games serve as great icebreakers, help build rapport, and provide therapeutic benefits. Here are some of them.

Virtual spinner

Use an online virtual spinner tool where you can customize sections with different prompts, coping strategies, or discussion topics. During the session, share your screen and let the client watch as you spin the wheel. Once it lands on a prompt, ask the client to reflect, discuss, or act on it. For example, if it lands on “name a self-care activity,” the client can share one and talk about its importance.

Online pictionary

Use a digital whiteboard, interactive art tools, or an online pictionary platform where clients can draw using their mouse or touchscreen. Share your screen and provide a prompt related to emotions, experiences, or therapeutic themes. The client then sketches their interpretation while you or other participants guess. Afterward, discuss the drawing's meaning and emotions associated with it to deepen self-expression and understanding. Use it to encourage self-expression and creativity, even as a team-building exercise.

Virtual escape room

Choose an online escape room that aligns with therapy goals, such as problem-solving or teamwork. Guide the client through the scenario, encouraging them to solve puzzles, find clues, and make decisions. You can pause at key moments to discuss emotional responses, critical thinking strategies, or frustration tolerance, making the game a learning experience.

Memory games

Use an online memory card-matching game or a recall-based challenge. Ask the client to remember the positions of matching cards or recall specific details from a short story or image. This exercise helps with focus, cognitive flexibility, and emotional processing when using emotionally themed cards.

Would you rather spinner

Customize an online spinner with “would you rather” questions related to emotions, values, or life choices. Spin the wheel and have the client answer the question it lands on. Encourage them to explain their choice, leading to deeper discussions about personal preferences, decision-making, and self-awareness.

Appreciation bingo

Before the session, create and share a digital bingo card filled with gratitude prompts like “Something I’m proud of” or “A person who supports me.” During the session, ask the client to mark off squares as they reflect on each prompt. If in a group session, participants can share responses, fostering a sense of positivity and connection.

Word association challenge

Start with a word related to therapy, such as "strength" or "fear," and have the client say the first word that comes to mind. Continue building a chain of words based on spontaneous associations. Use the connections to explore patterns in their thinking, underlying emotions, or areas that may need deeper discussion.

Takeaway

Online therapy games make telehealth sessions more engaging and effective. Through telehealth video conferencing, therapists can use interactive activities to help clients open up. These games can boost self-esteem by encouraging positive reinforcement and self-reflection. They also serve as therapeutic outlets, making tough conversations feel less intimidating.

Plus, with easy appointment scheduling, clients can access support without the stress of commuting. Whether it’s icebreakers, problem-solving challenges, or relaxation exercises, these tools keep sessions dynamic. In the end, therapy games help make online sessions feel as personal and impactful as in-person ones.