Marquita Dempsey, LMFT

Approaches that guide online sessions

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on respectful listening and understanding. The therapist follows the client's lead, reflects what is said, and helps the person feel heard so they can find their own solutions. This approach is useful for people who need a calm, nonjudgmental space to process strong feelings.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts influence feelings and actions. In online sessions this can mean identifying patterns, testing new ways of thinking, and practicing small homework tasks between meetings. CBT is often used for depression, anxiety, sleep problems, and managing day-to-day behaviors.

Solution-Focused Therapy zeroes in on clear, short-term goals and small steps toward them. Sessions emphasize what is already working and build on those strengths to create change quickly. This approach can be helpful when someone wants practical strategies for parenting, relationship concerns, or coping with life transitions.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss options, listen to the client's goals and preferences, and adjust methods as needed. Together they decide which techniques to try first and revisit progress as therapy continues.

Online formats offer flexibility and convenience. Video calls support face-to-face conversation and nonverbal cues, phone sessions are useful when bandwidth is limited, and live chat or text-based messaging allows for shorter check-ins or ongoing support between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule and to try different ways of connecting as needs change.