An online mentor for a teen is a consistent adult who meets your teenager one-on-one by video, usually every week, to set goals and follow through on them, with short check-ins by text between sessions. It suits capable teens who are stuck on motivation, organization or direction. Blackburn Mentoring offers it to teens 13 and up anywhere in the United States.
Quick facts: online teen mentoring at Blackburn Mentoring
| Ages | 13 and up; for high school students, a parent or guardian is involved |
| Format | One-on-one with the same dedicated mentor, by video anywhere in the United States; in person is also available in Los Angeles |
| Sessions | 60 minute video sessions, with text and phone check-ins between them |
| Session times | Early morning, after school, evening and weekend times, scheduled in your time zone |
| Parent role | Joining the free intro call is optional; parents get progress updates, and what is shared depends on the teen’s age and the permissions given |
| Getting started | A short online assessment, then a free intro call with a member of our team; new clients are matched with a mentor within 2 business days |
| What it is not | Tutoring in one subject, college admissions counseling, or therapy |
Who an online mentor helps most
- A teen who knows what to do but does not do it: late assignments, last minute studying, a planner that never gets opened.
- A teen who tunes out parents on school but will listen to another adult.
- A teen with no plan for after high school, or a plan that keeps changing.
- A teen whose days drift into screens, with little they are building.
- A teen in a busy family, a rural area or a different time zone, where a weekly drive to an office is not realistic.
An online mentor is usually not the first step if the main problem is persistent sadness, anxiety, panic, self-harm or substance use. Start with a licensed clinician; a mentor can work alongside them later. The mentor fit quiz can help you sort out which kind of help fits first.
What a week with an online mentor looks like
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Session day | A 60 minute video session: what got done, what got in the way, and two or three specific steps for the coming week |
| Midweek | A short text check-in on the step that matters most, for example starting an essay or emailing a teacher |
| Before a deadline | A reminder and a quick plan for the night before, if the teen wants one |
| Every few weeks | A progress update for parents, as agreed at the start |
The structure matters more than the screen. Teens tend to trust what shows up at the same time each week, and the midweek check-in is often where habits actually change. For the first session, see what happens in a first mentoring session.
What teens work on with an online mentor
- School follow-through: a weekly plan, starting assignments earlier, catching up after missed work. See executive function coaching.
- Motivation and direction: goals the teen actually chose, broken into weekly steps.
- Life skills: calendars, money basics, first jobs, phone calls and emails to adults.
- Big transitions: starting high school, senior year, and the move to college. See mentoring for the first year of college.
- Confidence and independence: small wins that add up, and less need for parents to manage every detail.
Online mentor vs other options for teens
| Option | Best for | How it differs from an online mentor |
|---|---|---|
| Volunteer mentoring program | A caring adult over the long term, free | Meets less often; less focus on specific goals; waiting lists are common |
| Tutor | Understanding one subject | Teaches content; does not cover planning, habits or motivation |
| Therapist | Mental health concerns | A licensed clinician who treats emotional and psychological concerns; a mentor focuses on practical action |
| Executive function coach | Planning and organization skills | Overlaps closely; a mentor also covers direction, life skills and independence |
| In-person mentor | Teens who do better face to face | Same structure; limited to where the mentor is. Blackburn offers in person in Los Angeles |
More detail: mentor vs therapist vs tutor vs coach and paid mentor vs volunteer program. In a national survey, one in three young people said they grew up without a mentor of any kind (MENTOR, The Mentoring Effect, 2014).
Time zones: when online sessions happen
Blackburn mentors are based in Los Angeles and schedule sessions in your time zone. A 4 pm after-school session in New York is 1 pm Pacific; a 7 pm session in Chicago is 5 pm Pacific. Early morning sessions before school are available for East Coast families, and weekend times are available too. See the virtual mentoring hub for state by state pages.
How parents stay involved from a distance
- You can join the free intro call, or leave it to your teen. Either is fine.
- You and your teen agree on goals at the start, so everyone is aiming at the same thing.
- You get progress updates; how much detail is shared depends on your teen’s age and the permissions given.
- If your teen sees a therapist, the mentor talks with the therapist only after written permission.
More on this in how parents stay informed.
How to choose an online mentor for your teen
Ask who exactly will work with your teen and whether it is the same person every week, how goals are written and tracked, what happens between sessions, how you will be updated, and what happens if the fit is not right. A good mentor will also tell you when something needs a tutor, a doctor or a licensed therapist instead. The full list is in the checklist for choosing a mentor for your teen.
Mentoring is not therapy or clinical care. If someone needs mental health treatment, a licensed clinician is the right place to start. In a crisis, call or text 988, or call 911 in an emergency.
Related
- How to find a mentor for your teenage son
- Finding a mentor for a teenage daughter
- Does my teenager need a mentor?
- Mentoring for high school students
- Is virtual mentoring effective?
Common questions
What is an online mentor for teens?
An online mentor is a consistent adult who meets a teenager one-on-one by video, usually weekly, to set goals and follow through on them, with short check-ins by text between sessions. It is not tutoring in one subject and it is not therapy.
Does online mentoring work as well as in person for teenagers?
Research on video mentoring is newer than research on in-person mentoring, so there is less evidence either way. What matters most in both formats is consistency, a clear plan and contact between sessions. Many teens find video easier to start with.
What age can my teen start with an online mentor?
Blackburn Mentoring works with teens from age 13, with a parent or guardian involved for high school students. It does not work with anyone 12 or younger.
Can an online mentor work with my teenage son if we live outside California?
Yes. Blackburn Mentoring works with teens by video anywhere in the United States, scheduled in your time zone, including early morning, evening and weekend times.
Will I know what my teen talks about with an online mentor?
Parents get progress updates. How much detail is shared depends on the teen’s age and the permissions given, so a teen can speak openly while parents know whether things are moving.
How much does an online mentor for a teen cost?
Volunteer programs are free; paid mentoring varies with how often sessions happen and how much contact there is between them. At Blackburn Mentoring, cost is discussed on the free intro call after the assessment.
Get started
Looking for an online mentor for your teen? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.
Booking for a son or daughter? You can book the call yourself. Free, by video, 20 minutes, with a member of our team. Weekdays 9 to 5 Pacific.