Elva 'Julia' Garafola, LCSW

Therapeutic approaches adapted for online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, focuses on helping people notice unhelpful thoughts and choose actions that align with their values. It can help with anxiety, depression, and the everyday stresses of parenting by shifting attention to meaningful behavior. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions and uses practical exercises to reduce symptoms and change patterns. This approach is useful for anxiety, sleep problems, and managing anger. Attachment-Based Therapy pays attention to early relational patterns and how they show up in present relationships, which can help people understand communication problems and reactive behaviors.

Finding the right mix of approaches is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, try strategies, and adjust methods based on what helps. That way sessions remain focused on practical progress and what matters most to the client.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to work together. Video calls allow face-to-face interaction for deeper conversation and skill practice. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth or camera use is limited. Live chat and text-based messaging support brief check-ins, ongoing problem-solving, and reminders between longer sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules and to keep momentum between meetings.