Diana Johnstone, LCSW

How therapeutic approaches fit into online care

Client-centered therapy focuses on the person's experience and priorities. The therapist listens actively and follows what matters most to the client, helping them set goals and try practical changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at thought patterns and behaviors and teaches skills to shift unhelpful thinking and reduce symptoms like anxiety or low mood. EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is used as a way to process distressing memories so they feel less overwhelming; it is offered as one tool alongside other approaches.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Diana will work with each person to decide which methods fit their needs, goals, and comfort level. That may mean starting with coping skills, then adding memory-processing work later, or mixing techniques to match changing goals.

Online therapy offers flexibility in how and when people connect. Video calls allow face-to-face interaction for skills coaching and guided processing. Phone sessions can work when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging suit people who prefer writing between sessions or want brief, on-the-go support. These options help make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and maintain regular contact with a licensed professional.