Leslie McRae, LCSW

Approaches That Fit Online Therapy

Client-centered therapy focuses on understanding each person's experience and offering empathic listening. It helps when people need a therapist who listens closely, reflects what they say, and helps them find their own solutions. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts influence feelings and actions. Sessions often include simple exercises to spot thought patterns and practice different responses, which can be useful for anxiety, panic, and social fears. Solution-focused therapy aims at small, practical changes. It helps people identify goals and try doable steps that lead to quick improvements in daily life. Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust the plan over time. Online formats like video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text messaging make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life. Video is good for full conversations and exercises, phone sessions can be simpler when bandwidth is limited, and messaging works for brief check-ins or ongoing support between meetings. These options offer flexibility so people can keep working on goals without major schedule changes.