Naomi Durand-Kabasela, MD, LCPC, LPC

Therapeutic approaches adapted for online care

Client-centered therapy focuses on the person's goals and strengths and creates space for honest conversation. Online sessions using this approach often center on listening and then shaping practical next steps that feel achievable at home or on the go.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, helps identify thought and behavior patterns that keep problems going. In online work CBT translates into structured exercises, brief between-session tasks, and real-time coaching to try new responses in daily life.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, DBT, emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal skills. When taught online these skills can be practiced in session and reinforced with short reminders or chat check-ins between meetings.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work together with the client to pick methods that match goals and preferences, and can adjust the plan as progress is seen. That collaborative process helps make therapy feel useful rather than prescriptive.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is helpful for full-session conversation and skill practice. Phone calls take less bandwidth and can be easier during a lunch break. Live chat or text messaging works well for brief check-ins, tracking mood, or getting reminders about skills. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule while keeping consistent contact with a licensed professional.