theatreMAMA
Experiential Marketing
212-581-5863
NYC TEENSPACE | 2024 Talking Points
QUICK LINKS
HOW IT WORKS
NYC students ages 13 to 17 can gain access to Talkspace services in just a few steps.
Visit talkspace.com/nyc and enter their birthdate and address to qualify.
Answer a few questions about themselves and their preferences for therapy.
Enter the email address of a parent or guardian, who will then receive an email to provide consent.*
Students are typically matched to a therapist licensed in New York within 24 hours, based on factors such as what they’re struggling with and therapist specialty.
Students will have access to one live video session per month and unlimited messaging therapy from their computer or smartphone. Therapists generally respond every day, five days per week.
Students will also have access to online mental health exercises and interactive courses designed for teens through the Talkspace Go app.
*- there are exemptions to parental consent for cultural or safety reasons. Teens who are concerned with parental consent can discuss this with their provider.
TALKSPACE SLIDESHOW
THINGS TEENS CAN EXPLORE IN THERAPY
It’s important we are tactful about suggesting issues that teens can explore. Always lead with “Therapy is a great place to talk about whatever is on your mind. Lot’s of teens use therapy to discuss….”, rather than, “you can talk about your…”
School stress
Bullying
Social media use
Friendship drama
Relationships
Anxiety or worrying
Tough transitions
Sadness or depression
Anything on your mind
TALKING POINTS
Ambassadors, please review these as things you can use to spark interest and stop students. These are inspiration, rather than requirement. Feel free to use these or create your own! Always prioritize keeping the conversation light, and then push the QR scan.
Teens / parents must complete the form to receive a free water bottle.
OPENING QUOTES:
“Interested in free online therapy?”
“Did you know the city is paying for your therapy?”
“Need someone to vent to?”
“Ready to claim your free access to therapy?”
“Have you signed up yet? 18,000 other NYC teens have”
“Have you talked to your parents about therapy?”
INFO QUOTES:
GENERAL: “The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is partnering with Talkspace to offer free therapy to anyone ages 13-17 in NYC.”
DOB + ADDRESS: “The reason it asks for your date of birth and address right away is because this program is currently only available for 13-7 year olds that live within the 5 boroughs of NYC, so those first two questions check your eligibility.”
PARENTAL CONSENT: “In New York State, if you're under the age of 18 and want to use Talkspace, you may need your parent or guardian's permission; however, there're situations where you may not need permission:
If you're legally independent from your parents or guardians (emancipated) OR
If you're a parent yourself.
If you're under 18 and can't get your parent's permission for any of the reasons below, Talkspace can connect you with a provider to talk about your concerns and help determine if New York laws will allow you to get therapy without your parent's permission.
Your parent or guardian isn't available OR
Involving your parents could be harmful to you OR
Your parents said no, but you feel that you really need therapy.”
THE QR CODE PROCESS
Have the teen scan the QR code or go to talkspace.com/nyc.
Ask them to proceed with filling out their eligibility (Date of birth, and Address). This is only used to determine if they are eligible as teens need to live in NYC and be between the age of 13-17.
Once they show you this screen (right), let them know the remainder of the questions are more personal and that they should take some time to finish.
Registration questions as of 11/19/2024:
Date of Birth & Address
What do you need support with?
What school do you attend?
Have you talked to a parent or guardian about doing therapy?
(MESSAGE) “You may need consent to start” - CONTINUE
How do you feel about doing therapy?
Gender Identity
What gender do you prefer in a therapist and the language they speak?
Complete your account: Email, password, nickname and phone number
Account created.
COMMON ERRORS:
At step 8 just before completing account creation, if an error message in red will say “Oops, we encountered an error. Double check all your information and try again”.
LIKELY CAUSES: Student already has an account OR password not strong enough.
FAQ
Who is eligible and how much does it cost?
The program is completely free for NYC residents who are 13 to 17 years of age at the time of sign-up.
Can students who are part of a private or charter school participate in this program?
Yes, all NYC residents ages 13 to 17 can sign up, regardless of where or if they attend school.
Is parental consent required?
Parental (or legal guardian) consent is required by law except in the case of special circumstances, outlined in the state’s “Mental Hygiene Law.” Students will be asked to provide contact information for their parent/guardian,and Talkspace will send the parent/guardian an email to sign a consent form.
Will my parent see my messages with my therapist?
No. Only if a student shares their log in information.
How long does the free therapy option last?
At the moment, this option is valid thru September 2026.
What if I turn 18 next month?
Students who turn 18 will have access to free therapy until July 30th.
Are Talkspace therapists licensed and qualified to work with teenagers?
Talkspace therapists are licensed in social work, professional counseling, and marriage and family therapy, and are all credentialed according to the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) standards. Talkspace therapists have an average of 7 to 10 years of post-supervision experience, have been trained to work with individuals of all ages, including teenagers, and can address a wide range of mental health issues affecting young people.
Are there providers who speak languages other than English?
Talkspace has therapists that speak, and can provide therapy in over 30 different languages. There is also translation support available in 120 languages.
How can I be sure student data is protected?
The Talkspace platform is designed to meet the requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Client data is encrypted both when sitting in the database and when being transmitted to or from your student’s device.
What happens if my student is in crisis?
Talkspace is not a crisis hotline. If your student needs immediate assistance or is in a life-threatening situation, Talkspace encourages you to call or text 988.
Is online therapy effective?
Absolutely! Studies demonstrate messaging therapy can be as effective as traditional therapy for the treatment of the most common emotional and behavioral health issues, such as depression, anxiety, chemical dependence, stress, PTSD and more.
AMBASSADOR INFORMATION
CALL TIME: Please arrive a few minutes before your shift start.
ARRIVAL LOCATION: 1650 Broadway, Suite 402, 4th Floor - Dressing Room Office (unless otherwise noted)
ARRIVAL TIME: At the start of your shift, you will get into apparel and work as a team to prepare materials for your visit. Shift times vary based on the event.
DEPARTURE/TRAVEL: At the scheduled departure time, your team will travel to and from the location via car (if bringing collateral). Personal items, bags, and coats can be left at the dressing room.
RETURNING TO DRESSING ROOM: Your team will return to the dressing room after each shift. While in the car on the way back, you’ll complete a brief post-shift survey to let us know about the interactions you had with people, report demographics, flier count, leftover materials, etc.
MUSIC PLAYLIST
CONTACT INFO:
theatreMAMA Dressing Room: (646) 363-6262
Justin Smusz: (630) 453-4100