Kayla Fruetel, LPC, LMHC

Practical approaches for online therapy and growth

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and following the person's priorities; the therapist reflects concerns and helps people find their own solutions. This approach is helpful when someone needs validation and space to make decisions.

Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, looks at thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in a simple way. It helps people identify unhelpful thinking patterns and try small experiments to shift mood and reactions. This is often useful for anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.

Dialectical behavior therapy, or DBT, offers straightforward skills for managing intense emotions and improving relationships. It teaches grounding, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance techniques that work in day-to-day situations.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the person about goals, preferences, and what feels most useful, then adjust methods as needed. That makes therapy a collaborative process rather than a one-size-fits-all plan.

Online formats such as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation, phone sessions can be simpler on bandwidth, live chat suits quick check-ins, and messaging supports ongoing reflection between meetings. These options give flexibility while keeping the focus on practical skills and steady progress.