Cherri McCord, LPC, LPC-MHSP

How therapy approaches adapt to online care

Client-centered therapy emphasizes listening and understanding the person’s priorities. Online sessions give space for the client to set goals and guide the conversation while the therapist reflects and clarifies what matters most. This approach helps with a wide range of concerns like low mood, anxiety, and uncertainty about parenting roles.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking and trying small behavior changes. Online CBT often includes brief exercises and between-session work to practice new skills for managing stress, anxiety, or depressive symptoms. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, brings practical skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and better communication when feelings run high.

Choosing the right approach is a team effort. The therapist will talk with the person about goals, preferences, and what has worked before. Together they try methods that fit the problem and the person’s daily life, and adjust the plan when needed.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video sessions let people read facial expressions and use worksheets on screen. Phone sessions require less bandwidth and can fit into a short break. Live chat and messaging are useful for brief check-ins, written reflections, or when someone prefers typing. These options make therapy more flexible and easier to fit into a busy schedule.