Sarah Plano, LCMHC

Approaches that guide online sessions

Sarah uses client-centered therapy to ground sessions in each person’s experience and goals. That approach focuses on listening, reflecting what a person says, and letting the client guide the pace and topic of work. It is useful when someone needs space to sort feelings and clarify priorities.

She also applies cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT to spot patterns in thoughts and behaviors that contribute to stress or worry. CBT uses practical exercises and short homework tasks to shift unhelpful thinking and build coping skills, which can help with anxiety, depression, and some eating or body image concerns. Solution-focused therapy is brought in when clients want clear, brief steps toward a specific change; it emphasizes small, measurable goals and strategies that can be tried between sessions.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist collaborates with each person to choose methods that fit their goals, life rhythms, and preferences. That conversation happens early and can be adjusted over time as needs change.

Online formats - video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging - make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules. Video allows face-to-face conversation, phone can be simpler when bandwidth is limited, live chat and messaging support shorter check-ins or ongoing reflection between sessions. These options help people access consistent support while juggling work, parenting, or caregiving duties.