Susan Mellema, LCSW

Using practical therapies online to address family and parenting stresses

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening closely and following the person’s lead. The therapist creates space for people to describe their priorities and life circumstances, and then helps identify what changes feel most important. This approach is useful when someone needs validation and wants to shape goals from their own perspective.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions. It teaches straightforward skills to shift unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns, which can help with anxiety, mood, and stress related to parenting or family conflict. Motivational Interviewing helps people clarify why change matters and builds motivation in small steps, often used alongside other methods when people face addiction or ambivalence about change.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk through what a person hopes to achieve and suggest methods that match those goals. Together they review progress and adjust the plan if needed so sessions stay practical and relevant.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different routines. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation, phone sessions can work when bandwidth is limited, live chat supports shorter check-ins, and messaging is useful for ongoing prompts and reflection between sessions. These options make it easier to attend sessions around work, caregiving, or other commitments while still working with a licensed professional.