Gretchen Shay, LCSW, LICSW

How her approaches translate to online therapy

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and reflecting what matters to you. In online sessions this means the therapist follows your lead, helps you name priorities, and adjusts the pace to match your needs. It is useful for people who want a supportive space to sort through parenting stress, grief, or life changes.

Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, teaches practical steps to change patterns of thinking and behavior. Online CBT sessions often include short, actionable exercises to practice between meetings and simple tools to handle anxiety, eating issues, or addictive behaviors.

Emotionally-focused therapy helps people understand attachment and emotional patterns in relationships. In an online format it can guide conversations about closeness, separation, and parenting bonds, using focused sessions to track shifts in feeling and response.

Finding the best approach is a team process. The therapist will talk with you about your goals and preferences, then try methods that fit your situation. If something does not feel helpful, adjustments are made together so the work matches what you want to achieve.

Online sessions offer practical flexibility. Video calls let you see facial cues and run through exercises that need visual interaction. Phone sessions use less bandwidth and can fit a break at work. Live chat or text messaging support brief check-ins, quick problem-solving, or ongoing encouragement between longer sessions.