Mary Ellen Cullity, LCSW

Approaches that translate well to online care

Client-centered therapy centers the session on the client's priorities and experience, letting the therapist follow the person's lead while offering empathy and practical ideas. This approach helps when someone needs a listening space plus guidance for real problems. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors through clear exercises and homework. It is useful for anxiety, depression, and stress because the tools are concrete and easy to use between sessions.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful, then try approaches together to see what sticks. That collaborative process means techniques can be adapted over time based on what the client reports is working.

Online therapy offers several practical benefits. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when visual cues matter. Phone sessions use less bandwidth and can fit into a break at work. Live chat and text-based messaging are convenient for brief check-ins, ongoing encouragement, or for people who prefer writing over speaking. These options make it easier to keep therapy consistent amid busy schedules and life transitions.