Lisa Golightly, LPC

How therapy approaches translate to online sessions

Client-centered therapy focuses on empathic listening and understanding. In practice this means sessions that begin with you explaining what matters most, while the therapist reflects back and helps you organize your thoughts. It helps when someone needs acceptance and clearer self-understanding.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts and behaviors connect. Online sessions use discussion and short exercises to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and try alternatives. This approach is often useful for anxiety, depression, and stress by teaching practical skills to change reactions.

Solution-focused therapy emphasizes small, concrete steps toward a preferred future. Conversations concentrate on specific goals and what’s already working, then add brief experiments to test new habits. It’s handy when people want quick, actionable changes.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist collaborates with each person to choose methods that fit their goals, needs, and preferences. That means listening, trying techniques, and adjusting the plan together as progress is made.

Online formats offer flexibility for busy lives. Video calls let the therapist and client use visual cues and longer conversations. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text messaging suit quick updates, brief exercises, or days when typing feels easier than talking. These options make it simpler to keep a steady pace of care around work, school, and parenting responsibilities.