Pamela Gerdes, LPC

How emotion-focused work translates to online therapy

Emotionally-Focused Therapy focuses on identifying and working with strong emotions to change patterns in relationships and self-connection. In practice this means helping people notice feelings, name them, and try new ways of responding when emotional patterns show up. It is often used for grief, trauma responses, intimacy-related struggles, and deep-seated emotional pain.

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening, empathy, and meeting people where they are. That approach creates space for clients to lead the conversation while the therapist offers reflection and support to help people clarify goals and next steps.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions interact. It gives concrete tools to challenge unhelpful thinking and try small behavioral experiments. This approach is useful for anxiety, depression, stress, and worry that gets in the way of daily life.

Finding the right blend of approaches is part of the work. Pamela will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their goals and preferences. Together they decide which strategies to try and adjust when needed.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and nonverbal cues. Phone sessions work when bandwidth is low or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text messaging make it easier to send notes between sessions, check in during a tough day, or fit therapy into a busy schedule. These options help make consistent care easier to keep up with.