Janet Atkinson, LCSW

Approaches that translate well to online care

Client-centered therapy puts the person’s experience first and focuses sessions on what matters most to them. It’s about listening, clarifying goals, and shaping conversations around the parent’s priorities. This approach helps when someone needs a supportive space to sort out parenting stress or life changes.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behavior. It teaches practical skills to change unhelpful thinking and to build different routines. CBT is useful for anxiety, sleep and eating problems, and mood concerns where clear steps can make a difference.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, offers tools for managing strong emotions and improving communication. It teaches techniques for distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness that many parents find helpful during high-pressure times.

Choosing the right approach is a team effort. Janet will collaborate with the client to match methods to goals and preferences, and she adjusts the plan as progress is made. That way the work stays focused and relevant to daily life.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video sessions are good for face-to-face conversations and teaching new skills. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth or camera use is limited. Live chat and text messaging are useful for short check-ins, quick strategies, or when someone needs flexible contact between sessions. These formats make it easier to fit therapeutic work into busy parenting schedules.