Mary Beth Ritchie, LCSW

Approaches that translate well to online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and choose actions that match their values. It is useful for anxiety, depression, and coping with life transitions because it focuses on what matters rather than trying to control every thought. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches practical skills to change unhelpful patterns. It often helps with anxiety, mood, sleep, and problem-solving in relationships. Client-Centered Therapy prioritizes a respectful, nonjudgmental relationship where the client’s perspective guides the work; this approach supports self-exploration and decision making.

Choosing the right approach is often part of the first few conversations. Mary Beth works collaboratively to figure out which methods fit a person’s goals and preferences. She combines elements from different approaches when that makes sense and checks in regularly to adjust the plan.

Online therapy offers several practical benefits. Video calls let people maintain face-to-face conversation when that is helpful, while phone sessions can be easier if bandwidth or camera use is a concern. Live chat is useful for short check-ins, and asynchronous text-based messaging gives time to reflect between messages. These options make it easier to keep therapy consistent around work, caregiving, or changing schedules.