Lauren Peffer, LCSW

How therapeutic approaches work online

Client-centered therapy places your experience at the center of each session. The therapist listens closely and helps you name goals and decide what matters most, which is useful for relationship concerns, parenting strain, and feelings of emptiness.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing different ways of thinking and behaving. It is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress because it leads to concrete steps people can practice between sessions.

EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a way of working with disturbing memories so they feel less triggering over time. It can be helpful for trauma and abuse when memory-related distress is part of the problem.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about concerns, goals, and preferences and then try approaches that fit. Plans can be adjusted as progress is made so the work stays relevant to real life.

Online therapy gives practical flexibility. Video calls let people use visual cues and real-time interaction. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or a quick check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging make it easier to fit brief conversations into a busy day or to keep conversations going between longer sessions. Licensed professionals can use these formats to tailor care to each person’s schedule and needs.