Stephanie Clausen-Swenson, LMFT, LPCC

How somatic and relational approaches fit into online therapy

Somatic work brings attention to body sensations and simple movement to help people notice stress and regulation patterns. Online sessions can include guided breath work, grounding exercises, and imagery that clients do while on a video or phone call to reduce anxiety or manage strong emotions.

Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early relationships shape current patterns. In plain terms it looks at how people connect, communicate, and feel safe with others. This approach can help with relationship stress, parenting concerns, and longstanding patterns that affect daily life.

Client-Centered Therapy keeps the person’s goals front and center and emphasizes empathy and collaboration. The therapist follows each person’s pace and helps identify steps that feel doable, whether that means practicing a new conversation or trying a grounding technique between sessions.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with the client about their needs, goals, and preferences and then shape sessions to match. This is a shared process and may shift as goals evolve.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. That makes it easier to use somatic exercises at home, fit sessions around busy schedules, and keep momentum between meetings. Many people find this range of formats helpful for staying consistent while trying new skills.