Mary Jennifer Meister, LCSW

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and supporting a person’s own goals. The therapist uses reflective listening, open questions, and practical problem solving to help people feel understood and find their own solutions. This approach is helpful for stress, self-esteem, and life changes.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions. It teaches concrete skills such as spotting unhelpful thoughts and trying small behavior changes. CBT is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress management.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, called EMDR, is a method used to help process traumatic memories and reduce intense emotional reactions. It can be offered when someone has lingering trauma-related symptoms and wants a different way to move past stuck patterns.

Choosing the right approach is a joint process. The therapist will talk with the person about their goals and preferences and recommend methods that fit those needs. That collaborative planning can include trying one approach, combining methods, or adjusting as progress unfolds.

Online sessions make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions can be simpler when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging let people share thoughts in writing, follow up between sessions, and use flexible timing. These options help people access care from wherever they are and pick what works best for their routine.