Saundra Burleson, LCMHC

Therapeutic approaches for online sessions

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, focuses on helping people notice what matters most to them and take small actions toward those values even when difficult thoughts or feelings appear. It can be useful for anxiety, depression, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact and uses practical exercises to change unhelpful patterns and build problem-solving skills. It is often used for anxiety, mood concerns, and coping with stress. Emotionally-Focused Therapy centers on identifying and shifting emotional responses and connection patterns, which can help when relationships or intimacy issues are a primary concern.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, preferences, and what has and hasn’t worked before. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust the plan as progress is made.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to meet. Video calls let people work face to face when visual connection helps. Phone sessions can fit into a short break or require less bandwidth. Live chat and text messaging are useful for quick check-ins, ongoing support between sessions, or when writing is a preferred way to process thoughts. These options make it easier to keep therapy consistent around work and family life.