Kelsey Young, BACP, NCPS

Therapeutic approaches suited to online sessions

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people notice what matters to them and take small, value-led steps even when worry or sadness is present. It uses straightforward exercises and practical actions to reduce avoidance and increase meaningful activity. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) helps people spot thinking and behaviour patterns that fuel anxiety and stress, and introduces concrete experiments and strategies to change those patterns over time. Client-Centred Therapy places the person’s experience at the heart of each session and relies on attentive listening and reflection so clients can find their own solutions and priorities.

Deciding which approach to use is a joint process. The counsellor will talk with the client about their goals, preferences and what feels most useful. Together they will try approaches and adapt them, checking in regularly about progress and adjusting course when needed.

Online work can make therapy easier to fit into busy lives. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when tone or visual cues matter, phone sessions work well for lower bandwidth or when camera-free talk is preferred, and live chat or text messaging suit brief check-ins or people who find typing easier than speaking. These options give flexibility for scheduling, shorter check-ins between sessions and different ways to practise skills.