Teletherapy for Cognitive Skills Training

Brittany Ferri, PhD, OTR/L
Education

While teletherapy has been a common modality in disciplines such as speech-language pathology and psychology for decades, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated its use in other areas of rehabilitation. As with any intervention format, teletherapy has its limitations, especially when it comes to managing physical health concerns such as edema and range of motion limitations. However, teletherapy can be an excellent fit for building cognitive skills, as technology can be incredibly beneficial in addressing attention, memory, flexibility, and various other executive functioning skills.

Despite the increase in its use, many providers may still be hesitant to use teletherapy or feel uncomfortable planning sessions in such a format. Such a response from clinicians may limit the number of patients who can benefit from these services. Therefore, education is important to properly prepare therapists for this type of work. In this article, we will provide an overview of the evidence-based benefits supporting this modality for cognition and activity ideas applicable to a range of disciplines and populations.

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Teletherapy with Children

Occupational therapy research indicates that, when used with pediatric populations, teletherapy made it easier for services to be provided in a child’s natural environment along with parents and other familiar figures. Teletherapy is also useful for individuals who are immunocompromised or have unreliable transportation. Therapists can also use teletherapy to cover vital session components such as patient coaching and education with greater ease.

Teletherapy with Older Adults

Evidence also supports telehealth for the provision of occupational therapy with geriatric individuals, as older adults and their caregivers similarly reported satisfaction with treatment delivered through this format. Teletherapy has proven an effective way to use geriatric treatment modalities such as Aging Well by Design, Lifestyle Redesign, Home Hazard Removal Program, and Community Occupational Therapy in Dementia, among others.

When used with individuals who have neurological disorders, teletherapy was shown to improve quality of life, memory, and global cognition. Other research looked specifically at teletherapy for those with Parkinson’s disease and determined that telehealth improved behavioral and emotional concerns as well as cognitive status. Benefits also extended to improvements in quality of life for both caregivers and patients who received services.

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Teletherapy-Friendly Activities for All Ages

  • Relaxation techniques
    • Guided imagery
    • Body scans
    • Deep breathing
    • Virtual field trips
  • Activities using the digital whiteboard or remote control feature
    • Virtual board or card games focused on matching skills, pattern recognition, speed, and more
    • Visual schedules (created together!) to assist with task sequencing
    • Feelings wheels
    • Mind mapping to address triggers and related coping strategies
    • Diagrams to assist with outlining goals and schedules (either related to therapy or other life areas)
    • Short videos to assist with role playing, social skills, and problem solving
    • Scavenger hunt-style activities such as hidden object pictures
    • Shared book reading and discussion
    • Word games (word searches, crossword puzzles, word scrambles) and virtual jigsaw puzzles
  • Creative arts activities, using a digital whiteboard or hard copy materials
    • Drawing
    • Coloring
    • Painting
    • Journaling
    • Storywriting
  • Integrated platforms with interactive apps and games

There are many ways therapists can incorporate enriching activities into their teletherapy sessions in order to prepare patients for addressing more practical, hands-on skills. Many organizations and even independent providers prefer integrated platforms, such as Cognishine, for their ability to centralize all activities in one comprehensive place. Cognishine’s platform offers a wide range of intervention options for skills such as language, cognition, speech, and socialization. If you are looking for an option like this for your practice, reach out today to learn more. 

‍About the Author

Brittany Ferri, OTR/L is the owner of a writing and consulting company called Simplicity of Health. She has 10 years of experience as an occupational therapist with background in program development, behavioral health, pediatrics, and telehealth.

References

  1. Diamond A. (2013). Executive functions. Annual review of psychology, 64, 135–168. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-113011-143750
  2. Baker, A. R., Barents, E. R., Cole, A. G., Klaver, A. L., Van Kampen, K., Webb, L. M., & Wolfer, K. A. (2025). Use and Perceptions of Telehealth by Pediatric Occupational Therapists Post COVID-19 Pandemic. International journal of telerehabilitation, 16(2), e6655. https://doi.org/10.5195/ijt.2024.6655 
  3. Latella, D., Maresca, G., Formica, C., Sorbera, C., Bringandì, A., Di Lorenzo, G., Quartarone, A., & Marino, S. (2023). The Role of Telemedicine in the Treatment of Cognitive and Psychological Disorders in Parkinson's Disease: An Overview. Brain sciences, 13(3), 499. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13030499
  4. Washington, S. E., Bollinger, R. M., Edwards, E., McGowan, L., & Stephens, S. (2023). Telehealth Delivery of Evidence-Based Intervention Within Older Adult Populations: A Scoping Review. OTJR : occupation, participation and health, 43(3), 467–477. https://doi.org/10.1177/15394492231180838 
  5. Hu, Y., Li, Y., Li, J., Yat Wa Liu, J., Gustin, S.M., Li, M., & Yee Man Leung, A. (2025). Effectiveness of telehealth interventions on cognitive function and quality of life in adults with neurological disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 26(4), 105491. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2025.105491.

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