Cathalene Silver, LCPC, LMFT

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Existential Therapy helps people name what matters to them and face big questions about purpose and choice. In an online session this often looks like guided conversation about values and steps a person can take toward a more meaningful life.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) teaches ways to notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, then move toward chosen goals. That mix of mindfulness and action fits well with phone or video sessions where clients practice skills and set small experiments between meetings.

Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early and ongoing relationship patterns shape how people connect and feel safe. Online work can use reflective conversation and behavioral tasks to try new ways of relating and communicating.

Finding the right mix of these approaches is part of the work. The therapist and client collaborate to choose methods that match the client's needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting over time as progress and challenges appear.

Online formats offer flexibility. Video calls let therapists read facial cues for deeper emotional work. Phone sessions use less bandwidth and can be easier on days when being on camera feels hard. Live chat and text-based messaging provide short check-ins, written reflections, and ongoing coaching between longer sessions, helping therapy fit into a busy life.