Johanna Westin, LCSW

Approaches that guide online care

Johanna uses approaches that focus on practical change and managing strong emotions. Client-Centered Therapy centers the person’s experience and priorities, so sessions start with what matters most and move at the client’s pace. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts and behaviors interact and teaches clear strategies to reduce anxiety, panic, and low mood.

She also draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy, DBT, to teach skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and clearer communication. DBT skills can be helpful when emotions feel overwhelming or when patterns of reactivity interfere with daily life. Johanna will talk with each person about which methods seem most useful and adapt the plan as progress is made.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist and client decide together which techniques to try, and they check in regularly to see what helps. That collaborative process shapes sessions and keeps the focus on the client’s goals.

Online therapy offers several practical benefits. Video calls allow live face-to-face conversation when connection and nonverbal cues matter. Phone sessions require less bandwidth and can fit into a work break. Live chat or text messaging supports quick check-ins, brief coaching, or ongoing reflection between visits. These options make it easier to keep therapy consistent and flexible around daily life.