Brett Dustin, LCSW

Approaches that translate well to online therapy

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and building understanding first. It creates space for clients to tell their story and for the therapist to reflect back what matters most, which helps guide the next steps. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, teaches concrete skills to change thinking and behavior patterns that feed anxiety or depression; it often uses short exercises and homework that are easy to share over video or messaging.

Dialectical behavior therapy, or DBT, provides tools for managing intense emotions and handling crisis moments with practical skills like distress tolerance and emotion regulation. These techniques can be practiced during sessions and between meetings using chat or phone check-ins. Brett will work collaboratively to identify which approaches fit a person’s needs and goals, adjusting methods as progress unfolds rather than sticking to a single plan.

Online therapy offers flexibility for people balancing work, family, or health demands. Video calls let visual cues guide the session, phone visits can be a simpler option when bandwidth is limited, and live chat or text-based messaging is useful for shorter check-ins or when writing feels easier than speaking. Using these formats, clients can access ongoing support and skill practice without extra travel time, which helps therapy fit into a busy life.