Earl Barrios, LPCC

Approaches that translate well to online therapy

CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, helps people notice and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors. It often involves simple homework exercises and short-term skills to reduce anxiety or improve mood. EMDR, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, is used to process distressing memories; online sessions can focus on guided recall and bilateral stimulation methods adapted for remote work. Mindfulness therapy teaches attention and breathing practices to reduce reactivity and improve focus, and those exercises are easily practiced during video or phone sessions.

Finding the right approach is a team effort. The therapist will talk with clients about goals and preferences, then recommend methods that fit those aims. That collaborative review can shift over time as needs change, and clients are encouraged to give feedback about what helps most.

Online therapy offers practical benefits such as flexible scheduling, fewer travel demands, and options that match different communication styles. Video calls support face-to-face conversation and visual cues, phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed, and live chat or text-based messaging can suit people who prefer written exchanges or want ongoing support between sessions. These formats make it easier to keep therapy consistent across life changes.