Lewis Gains, BACP

How client-centred and psychodynamic work fits online

Client-Centred Therapy keeps the focus on the person and their present experience. In practice this means conversations that follow what the person finds most important, with the counsellor reflecting and clarifying so feelings become clearer. This approach can help with anxiety, low mood, stress and life decisions.

Psychodynamic Therapy looks at patterns that repeat across relationships and time. It involves gently exploring how past experiences influence current feelings and reactions. That approach can be useful for understanding recurring relationship problems, persistent low self-esteem and the roots of emotional responses.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences and what feels most helpful, and then adapt methods together. That collaborative process aims to match the style of therapy to each person’s needs rather than imposing one way of working.

Online therapy offers practical options like video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. Video is useful for a fuller face-to-face conversation, phone works well when bandwidth is limited, live chat can be a quicker check-in and messaging suits people who prefer writing and flexible timing. These formats make it easier to fit sessions around work, family or other commitments and to maintain continuity when travel or relocation occurs.