Sarah Dixon, BACP

Approaches that translate well to online therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thinking and reconnect with what matters to them. It focuses on small, values-led steps to reduce avoidance and increase a sense of purpose, which is useful for anxiety, depression, and life changes.

Client-Centred Therapy is about being heard. The therapist offers empathic listening and reflects what emerges, so people feel understood and can explore their own solutions. This approach supports self-esteem, grief work, and longer-term emotional processing.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) breaks down problems into thoughts, feelings, and behaviours and then tests practical ways to change them. It is commonly used for anxiety, low mood, sleeping difficulties, and managing stress.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss needs, goals, and preferences and then try methods that fit the person. That decision is made collaboratively and can change over time as progress is reviewed.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when schedules or travel make in-person meetings hard. Phone sessions can be a good choice if bandwidth is limited or for shorter check-ins. Live chat and text messaging suit quick reflections, ongoing notes between sessions, or people who prefer writing their thoughts.