Jermaine Anthony, LCSW

How these approaches translate to online therapy

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and building a trusting working relationship. In practice that means the therapist follows the client's lead, reflecting concerns and priorities so sessions feel relevant and respectful. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches skills to change unhelpful patterns; it often includes practical exercises and behavior experiments useful for anxiety and addictive behaviors. Dialectical behavior therapy, DBT, emphasizes skill training in emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, which can help with impulsivity, strong emotions, and relationship strain.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each client about their goals, preferences, and day-to-day life, then try methods that fit those needs. That collaborative process means approaches can be blended or adjusted over time so sessions remain helpful and realistic.

Online formats - video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging - make it easier to schedule consistent work. Video is useful for longer sessions and exercises that benefit from face-to-face interaction. Phone sessions require less bandwidth and can fit a break at work. Live chat and text messaging are good for short check-ins, quick coaching, or when typing feels more comfortable than talking. These options provide flexibility so therapy can fit into a busy life rather than add more strain.