Sheila Bagshaw

Approaches that suit online counselling

Client-centred work focuses on listening and responding to what matters most to the person. The counsellor follows the individual's lead and builds goals around their priorities, which helps when people want practical, personal support.

Mindfulness therapy teaches simple attention exercises and breathing practices to reduce stress and ground difficult feelings. These techniques can be useful for anxiety, grief and coping with life changes because they offer tools to use between sessions.

Solution-focused therapy concentrates on identifying small, realistic steps that move someone toward their aims. It is action-oriented and helps people try out changes straight away rather than focusing only on the past.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The counsellor will discuss goals, preferences and what has helped in the past, then agree a plan together. That collaborative process makes it easier to adapt methods as needs change.

Online sessions by video, phone, live chat or text messaging make therapy more flexible. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when that feels helpful. Phone sessions need less bandwidth and can fit a break at work. Live chat and text messaging are useful for short check-ins or when writing feels easier. These options help people access support from different places and at times that suit them.