Marcia Tharp, LICSW, LCSW

How common therapy approaches work online

Client-centered work focuses on the person’s experience and priorities. A therapist listens carefully and follows the client’s pace, helping them name goals and explore choices. This approach fits people who want a supportive, respectful space to sort through their concerns.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going. Sessions include simple exercises and experiments to try between meetings, which can help with anxiety, depression, sleep issues, and coping with life changes. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, adds specific skills for managing intense emotions and improving interpersonal effectiveness; it can be useful when strong emotions or impulsive reactions cause trouble.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals, try techniques that match those goals, and adjust the plan as needed. Clients are invited to give feedback so the work stays focused and relevant to daily life.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls provide face-to-face time when more connection is helpful. Phone sessions use less bandwidth and can be easier when movement or camera-free conversation helps. Live chat and text-based messaging support brief check-ins, skill practice, and ongoing encouragement between longer sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, school, caregiving, and other routines.