John Swan, LMHC

How his approaches work online and in session

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and following the client's lead, building on personal strengths and what matters most to the individual. It helps when someone needs acceptance, a clearer sense of direction, and a therapist who responds to their pace.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect, and uses practical exercises to test and change unhelpful thinking. CBT is useful for anxiety, depression, stress, and many of the day-to-day problems people bring to therapy.

Motivational interviewing helps people find their own reasons to change and to strengthen motivation for difficult goals like reducing substance use or improving self-care. It is collaborative and nonjudgmental, aimed at uncovering what a person values and wants to move toward.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped before, then choose methods together. That collaborative plan can be adjusted over time as needs change.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy easier to fit into busy lives. Video is helpful for deeper conversations and visual cues, phone calls can be simpler when bandwidth is limited, and chat or messaging allows brief check-ins or ongoing support between sessions.