Neil Cochrane, BACP

Using CBT online and tailoring the approach

CBT, or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, helps people spot unhelpful thoughts and test new ways of thinking and acting. It is practical and often focuses on small changes that reduce anxiety, improve mood and support better sleep or eating habits. Neil combines CBT with flexible techniques based on what the person needs and prefers. This might mean setting short exercises to try between sessions, practising coping skills during a call, or working through patterns that affect relationships and work. He works together with clients to decide which tools to try. Online therapy can make attending sessions easier alongside a busy life. Video calls let people see and hear each other for a fuller conversation. Phone sessions are useful when bandwidth is limited or a quieter check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging suit shorter updates, quick coaching between meetings, or when typing feels more comfortable. Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will help identify what fits best based on the client's goals, preferences and responses to different methods. That collaborative process helps shape a plan that can be used across the online formats on offer.