Bret Patterson, LPC

How practical approaches meet online therapy

Client-centered therapy focuses on building a respectful, collaborative relationship where the client's goals guide each session. It works well for people who want a supportive space to talk through parenting stress, grief, or relationship issues. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, helps people identify patterns of thought and behavior that make problems worse and teaches concrete strategies to change them, which is useful for anxiety, depression, and stress. Dialectical behavior therapy, or DBT, emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and improved interpersonal skills and can be helpful when emotions feel overwhelming.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Bret will listen to your needs and try different methods until you find what helps. He treats the choice of techniques as a team decision, adjusting plans as your goals and circumstances change.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to give flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when visual cues matter. Phone sessions can work when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text messaging are useful for brief updates, reflection between sessions, or when typing feels easier than speaking. These options help fit therapy into busy days and different routines.