Emma McArthur

Approaches that translate well to online therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice what matters to them and take small steps that match their values. In online sessions this often looks like setting simple experiments to try between meetings and checking progress together. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy focuses on spotting thinking and behaviour patterns that keep problems going and on practising clear, short strategies to change them. CBT tasks work well across video, phone or text when people want structured, action-focused work.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to pick methods that suit their goals and circumstances. That means trying things, reviewing what helps and adjusting the plan so it fits the individual’s needs and preferences.

Online therapy offers flexibility in how people take part. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when visual cues matter, phone sessions use less bandwidth, live chat can be useful for quick check-ins, and text messaging supports short, ongoing exchanges. These options make it easier to fit counselling around work, caring responsibilities and daily life, while still getting regular therapeutic support.