Kaitlen Forman

How therapeutic approaches shape online care

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and building on what already works in a person’s life. The therapist creates space for someone to describe their concerns and priorities while supporting them to make their own choices. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, looks at thoughts and behaviors and teaches practical skills to reduce anxiety, depression, and stress through short exercises and step-by-step experiments. Dialectical behavior therapy, or DBT, adds concrete tools for managing strong emotions and improving relationships, including mindfulness, distress tolerance, and emotion regulation techniques.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals, needs, and preferences and then adapt methods accordingly. That collaborative process means skills and goals are chosen together, and the plan can change as progress is made.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to use these approaches through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit sessions into busy family schedules, handle urgent coaching moments between meetings, and practice skills in real time. Licensed professionals can teach and coach using the same practical exercises they would in person, while keeping sessions convenient and accessible.