Michelle Singleton, LCSW, CSW

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, and then move toward actions that match personal values. It can be useful for anxiety, depression, and managing life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify patterns of thinking that contribute to distress and teaches practical techniques to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. It is often used for anxiety, mood concerns, and stress management. Mindfulness Therapy teaches present-moment attention and simple practices to calm the mind and reduce reactivity, which can support emotional regulation and coping.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful, then use ACT, CBT, mindfulness, or client-centered methods as a team decision. The process is collaborative and adjusted over time based on what is helping.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for full-session conversations and learning exercises. Phone works well when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text messaging can support brief updates, coping tools between sessions, or people who prefer writing. These formats offer flexibility to fit therapy into busy schedules and different daily routines.