James Beller, LMHC

Approaches that translate to online care

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening, empathy, and creating a respectful space where people can talk through problems and set their own goals. That approach helps people feel understood before taking practical steps, which works well in video or phone conversations.

Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts and behaviors keep problems going and teaches specific tools to change them. CBT exercises, tracking, and planning can be done over video, phone, chat, or text and are useful for anxiety, depression, parenting stress, and coping with life changes.

Hypnotherapy uses guided relaxation and imagery to access strong coping resources and to address lingering trauma responses. Short guided sessions or audio exercises can fit into an online format and complement other approaches.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work collaboratively to match methods to a person’s goals and preferences, trying different techniques and adjusting as needed. Clients help choose whether to focus more on skills, talk therapy, or guided work like hypnotherapy.

Online sessions offer flexibility and accessibility. Video calls let a therapist see nonverbal cues, phone sessions use less bandwidth and can be easier when movement is needed, and live chat or text-based messaging supports brief check-ins or ongoing coaching between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy parenting schedules and changing routines.