Lyndsay Macaulay, BACP

Approaches that translate well to online therapy

Person-centred counselling focuses on listening without judgement and following the client's lead. It helps people feel heard, name what is troubling them and decide what kind of change they want. This approach works well when someone needs space to make sense of difficult feelings or parenting pressures.

Cognitive behavioural techniques look at links between thoughts, feelings and actions and offer practical tools to reduce anxiety, manage low mood, and change unhelpful habits. These techniques can be taught and practised during sessions and used between meetings to create steady progress.

Hypnotherapy involves guided relaxation and suggestion to support changes in thinking or behaviour. It can be helpful for worries that affect sleep, eating, or coping with stress when someone is open to that style of work.

Choosing the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work together with the client to decide which methods suit their goals, preferences and daily life. Plans can be adjusted as work unfolds so that the approach stays useful and relevant.

Online sessions give practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when tone and non-verbal cues matter. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging are useful for people who prefer typing, want more frequent but brief contacts, or need a flexible way to reflect between sessions. Registered and accredited professionals use these formats to make therapy more accessible for busy lives.