Mary Harrington, BACP

How Mary uses different approaches online

Client-centred therapy is about listening closely and following each person’s lead. The counsellor prioritises the person’s own goals and offers empathy and reflection to help clarify feelings and choices. Cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, focuses on spotting unhelpful thinking and testing small behaviour changes. It is useful for anxiety, low mood and stress because it gives clear exercises and homework to do between sessions.

EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, is a method used to help process traumatic memories so they feel less overwhelming. It often combines focused recall with guided bilateral stimulation and can be offered online when appropriate for the client’s situation.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Mary will talk with the person about their goals and preferences and suggest methods that match those needs. Together they agree a plan and review progress as therapy continues, adjusting techniques if something isn’t helping.

Online therapy brings practical benefits. Video calls let people work face-to-face without travel. Phone sessions need less bandwidth and can fit into a short break. Live chat and text messaging suit quick check-ins or ongoing support between appointments. These options make therapy more flexible and easier to fit around work, family or mobility constraints, while still allowing therapists to use CBT exercises, client-centred listening and EMDR where appropriate.