Carol Harris, LCSW

How therapy approaches translate to online care

Attachment-based work looks at how early relationships shape current reactions and closeness. Online sessions can use that lens to notice patterns in how someone connects, responds to worry, and manages intimacy in daily life. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify their values and take small actions toward them. In remote sessions ACT techniques often include short exercises, mindfulness practices, and goal-setting that can be practiced between meetings. Client-Centered Therapy centers on empathic listening and collaboration so the person feels heard and understood before strategy work begins.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the person about their needs, goals, and what feels most helpful. Together they can try different techniques and adjust the plan if something isn’t working, keeping the person’s preferences in focus.

Online formats offer practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions use less bandwidth and can be easier for quick check-ins. Live chat and text-based messaging let people touch base between meetings or manage shorter, focused moments of support. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, caregiving duties, or medical schedules while still working on attachment, coping, and behavior change.