Luca Hawkins, MD, LCPC

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on the client’s experience and priorities. It involves open listening, reflecting what the person says, and shaping the pace around their comfort. This approach helps people feel heard while deciding what change they want to make.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact. Sessions use straightforward exercises to identify unhelpful thinking and practice different actions. This method is useful for anxiety, depression, panic, and low self-esteem.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, DBT, teaches skills for emotion regulation and managing strong impulses. It includes short skills practice and steps for handling intense moments. DBT techniques are often used for mood instability, anger, and coping under stress.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences. That plan can change over time as needs evolve and new challenges appear.

Online formats offer flexible ways to keep therapy consistent. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and nonverbal cues. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or for quick check-ins. Live chat and text-based messaging work well for brief updates, skill coaching, or when a written thread helps track progress. Together these options make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules and maintain momentum between meetings.