Matthew "Matt" Daues, LCSW, CSW

How these approaches translate to online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people notice what matters to them and take small actions toward those values. It is useful for anxiety, depression, and coping with ongoing life stresses. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying unhelpful thought patterns and trying new behaviors to break cycles of worry and low mood. That approach often fits people who want structured steps and measurable progress. Mindfulness-based work brings simple breathing and attention exercises into sessions to reduce reactivity and improve focus; these practices can be introduced during a session and practiced between meetings.

Choosing the right mix of methods is a team effort. The therapist will listen to goals, try approaches together, and adjust based on what proves most helpful. That collaborative process helps shape a plan that fits the client’s priorities and daily life.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to work on these methods. Video calls allow face-to-face coaching and guided mindfulness practice. Phone sessions can be a shorter check-in when bandwidth or camera time is limited. Live chat and text-based messaging make it easier to share moments of progress, ask quick questions, or get reminders about homework between sessions. These options make it simpler to fit therapy into a busy schedule and to keep practicing tools in real time.