Virtual mentoring works well for most teens and young adults when sessions are regular, goals are written down and the mentor follows up between meetings. Video saves travel time and makes early or evening sessions realistic. It is a weaker fit for someone who needs hands-on structure every day. Blackburn Mentoring offers both: video nationwide, in person in Los Angeles.
Key facts
- The things research links to good mentoring (consistency, real guidance, good matching and enough time) do not depend on being in the same room.
- Research on video mentoring itself is still thin. A 2021 systematic review found only 14 studies on e-mentoring for youth health, most of them small.
- Nearly all teens are already online every day, so video is a familiar setting for most of them.
- Blackburn mentors are based in Los Angeles and offer early morning, evening and weekend sessions in your time zone.
- Families in Los Angeles can choose in person, video or a mix.
Is online mentoring as good as in person?
For most of the goals families bring to us, yes. Planning a school week, keeping up with deadlines, building a job search or setting a routine are conversations. They work on a screen as long as the sessions happen on time, every time, and the mentor checks in between them.
The main difference is not the screen. It is follow-through. A weekly video session that never gets skipped will usually do more than an in-person meeting that gets cancelled every other week because of traffic or a busy schedule.
In person still has real advantages for some people. It can help a young person who shuts down on camera, who needs to practice something in the real world, or who has little structure at home. That is why we offer in-person sessions across Los Angeles and let families mix the two.
What does the research say about virtual mentoring?
We want to be honest here. The large reviews of youth mentoring mostly studied face-to-face programs. They found that mentoring helps on average, with stronger effects when relationships last and mentors give useful guidance. Our page on whether mentoring works covers those findings.
Studies of online mentoring are newer and smaller. A systematic review by Kaufman, Levine, Casella and DuBois in Adolescent Research Review (2021) found 14 studies of e-mentoring aimed at youth health. Most involved young people with a health condition, used small samples and measured outcomes like confidence and loneliness. The authors concluded that e-mentoring has promise and that larger, more careful studies are needed.
So no one can honestly claim that research proves video mentoring equals in-person mentoring. What we can say is that the factors research ties to good results are all things a video mentor can deliver: a steady schedule, written goals, real guidance and a relationship that lasts.
It also helps that video is normal for this age group. In a Pew Research Center survey from fall 2024, 96% of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 said they use the internet daily, and 46% said they are online almost constantly.
Who is video mentoring a good fit for?
| Usually a good fit for video | May need in person or more support |
|---|---|
| Teens who need help planning schoolwork and keeping deadlines | A young person who will not engage on camera after a fair try |
| College students away at school | Someone who needs daily, hands-on structure at home |
| Young adults working on a job search or a move-out plan | Skills that have to be practiced in the real world, side by side |
| Busy families who cannot add another drive to the week | A person in crisis, who needs clinical care first |
| People living outside Los Angeles | Anyone whose main need is treatment rather than mentoring |
How does Blackburn Mentoring run video sessions?
- A dedicated mentor. Each client works with the same mentor, matched within 2 business days of the assessment.
- Your time zone. Mentors are Pacific based. A 4 pm slot on the East Coast is 1 pm in Los Angeles, and early morning sessions are available for clients in the East.
- A set schedule. Sessions are 60 minutes, with early morning, evening and weekend options. Mentoring is arranged in 30 day cycles.
- Contact between sessions. Short texts and calls keep commitments from slipping.
- Parents in the loop. For high school students, parents can get updates when needed.
- A team behind the mentor. Our team reviews every assessment personally and can change the match if the fit is not right.
How can you tell in the first month if it is working?
Look for small, concrete signs rather than big changes:
- Sessions happen on schedule and your teen or young adult shows up.
- There are written goals, and you can name one or two of them.
- Some small task has been done that was stuck before.
- The young person talks to the mentor between sessions, even briefly.
- Home conversations about school or work feel a little less tense.
If none of these are happening after about four to six weeks, raise it with the mentor or with our team. Sometimes the fix is a different time, more frequent sessions, a switch to in person in Los Angeles or a different mentor.
Common questions
Do teens open up on video?
Many do, and some find it easier than sitting across a table. Being at home can feel less formal. The first few sessions focus on trust and on goals the teen actually cares about, which matters more than the format.
What do I need for a video session?
A phone, tablet or computer with a camera, a steady internet connection and a quiet spot. Headphones help with privacy at home.
Can we switch to in person in Los Angeles?
Yes. Families in Los Angeles can meet in person, by video or both, and can change the mix as needs change. Clients outside the Los Angeles area meet by video.
Is virtual mentoring only for teens?
No. We work with teens 13 and older, college students, young adults and adults. College students and working adults often prefer video because it fits around classes and jobs.
What if video is not working for us?
Tell us. We can change the session time, the frequency or the mentor. If the real need is clinical care, we will say so and suggest that you speak with a licensed professional.
Related guides: online vs in-person mentoring, does mentoring work? and how virtual mentoring works.
Get started
Take the five-minute assessment at blackburnmentoring.com/get-started or call (888) 305-5422. The intro call is free, and it is a good time to ask how video sessions would work for your family.
Last reviewed: October 2026.
Free, by video, 20 minutes, with a member of our team. Weekdays 9 to 5 Pacific.