Best Types of Therapy
for Online Counselling
Psychotherapy, Talk Therapy, Mental Health Treatments… What are they?
They are just types of treatment options, or different forms of talk therapy. In each you sit and chat online with a therapist but you do different things. With CBT your playing detective and getting to the bottom of why you feel like that and what was happening that caused it. And with DBT your learning coping skills to add to your toolbox. With both you’ll get to the end result of feeling better.
So, these psychotherapy styles you see on discussed below are like being at a car dealership, and the therapy style is the car that your choosing to drive in to get to your destination. Then depending on the counsellor you pick, their schooling has made them a professional driver, who’s trained to drive a bunch of different car’s and has travelled down these roads before.
You can pick which ever car you’d like to take you to your goal or the therapist can assess your symptoms and let you know which the most effective mental health treatment option is that would fit your needs.
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a highly effective form of therapy with numerous studies showing its success in treating a wide range of mental health disorders. CBT helps individuals identify and change negative thoughts and behaviors that may be contributing to their problems. In sessions, the therapist and client work together to explore thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and identify and change unhelpful patterns. CBT is widely recognized as the gold standard approach to counseling and is highly effective for a range of demographics.
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Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is a highly effective form of psychotherapy developed by Marsha Linehan to help individuals struggling with difficult emotions, self-destructive behaviors, and relationship issues. DBT combines the change-oriented techniques of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with the acceptance-based principles of mindfulness and has been shown to be effective in treating a range of mental health conditions. The four main modules of DBT include mindfulness, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance. These skills help individuals manage their emotions, improve communication and relationships, and cope with difficult situations in a healthy way. Through DBT, people can gain greater control over their symptoms and lead a more fulfilling and satisfying life.
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An Integrated CBT and DBT Approach
DBT and CBT are both effective forms of counseling therapy, and the integrated approach combines both methods. In DBT, each module teaches individuals the skills they need to address their specific challenges. In a session using the integrated approach, we will first use CBT to explore the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that contributed to an event. At the end of each session, we will teach a DBT skill to help individuals make tangible changes to their situation. By combining the power of CBT with the skills-based focus of DBT, the integrated approach can help individuals achieve lasting change and improved mental health.
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Chronic Illness Counseling
Learn to pace your energy and adapt to life with cancer and a wide range of chronic conditions. Chronic Illness Therapy can be helpful for chronic disease conditions, those with me cfs diagnosis, or those undergoing chemotherapy. Any one with an illness that particularly affect energy limits, causes brain fog, and pain.
With our virtual counsellor that teaches health management modules you can set up a pacing program that’s just for you. It only takes a few sessions to teach the skills of chronic health pacing and brain fog management.
And, through your online counselling sessions, you will discover how you can go from diagnosis to finding your best life while living with your condition. Discuss tools and ways to boost your productivity and regain control over your life. Book a session today and start feeling better.
Explore the Types of Support I Offer
Specialized Online Therapy for Chronic Illness, Trauma, Caregivers, and Complex Health Stressors
Whether you’re new to therapy or returning after a break, each session is tailored to meet your needs, goals, and energy levels.
Chronic Illness Therapy: I support clients in managing chronic pain, regulating symptoms, building coping tools, and improving quality of life. I draw on somatic techniques and evidence-based pain management strategies used in hospital settings. Approaches may include:
Mind-body and nervous system work
Pain Reprocessing Therapy
Other trauma-aware, somatic approaches
Health Trauma Therapy: I specialize in supporting people navigating emotional challenges around diagnosis, surgery, or long-term medical treatment. This includes:
Cancer or terminal illness diagnoses
Recovery from surgeries or medical procedures
Grief, fear, and identity shifts related to illness
Trauma Therapy: If you're processing trauma — from illness, burnout, or life events — I offer steady support and actionable tools to help you move forward. Approaches include:
CBT and Trauma-Focused CBT
Music and Creative Therapy
SSP, Pain Reprocessing, and other somatic tools
I also have advanced training in acute stress and PTSD care.
Family & Caregiver Support: Chronic illness impacts more than just the individual. I work with caregivers and family members coping with the stress of illness or trauma in the household. Whether you're carrying emotional load, feeling burned out, or needing space to process — you're welcome here.
Meet Elysia Bronson
Registered Clinical Counsellor & Chronic Pain Specialist with Lived ExperienceAs a Registered Clinical Counsellor who is also specialized in pain therapy research and mind body approaches, "I enjoy supporting individuals living with chronic pain, illness, trauma, and mental health challenges. I’ve learned how to manage chronic pain, find ways to cope with symptoms, build up coping skills, and improving your quality of life. As these are all issues I have experienced facing myself. And I understand the unique roadblocks you may encounter, because I’ve survived them or learned to manage them while juggling parenthood and work. And I’d be honoured to walk with you on your journey.
Why Choose Online Counselling
for Pain and Trauma?
A Deeper Connection: I’m here to support you, and that’s why together in our sessions, we will create a warm and safe environment. I’ll use counselling approaches that are grounded in the latest research, ensuring you receive the most effective care possible. And we’ll create a deeper connection as everyone has different disorders with different symptoms, yet sometimes there's an overlap of our lived experiences, in which I deeply understand the challenges of needing to adapt your life. Often with clients who have fibromyalgia, chronic migraine, chronic fatigue, trigeminal autonomic cephalgia, or other disorders, I will share similar symptoms. Full disclosure: I have multiple disorders, some rare, some common. This means we'll probably understand each other on a deeper level when theres a similarity in disorders. This allows for a deeper level of understanding when there's a shared experience. Even if I don't have your specific condition, my extensive experience working with a wide range of chronic illnesses allows me to empathize and provide effective strategies so that you can start feeling better sooner.
Building Trust and Open Communication: I value open communication and believe in a collaborative approach. I love hearing about my clients' lives and lived experiences. It's important to me that you feel comfortable explaining what your chronic illness is like for you. Having faced similar challenges navigating appointments, medical gaslighting, and the healthcare system, I understand the frustration that can come with navigating chronic illness and trying to explain it to others. These are all things we can work through together. Many clients tell me, "I've never met someone who gets it," and that's exactly what I strive for – a safe space where you feel understood. If your concerned lets have a chat.
Take A Clear Personalized Approach: I don’t beat around the bush or talk over your head. Often, I’ll pull up slides to help explain skills, and together we uncover the connection between your symptoms and how stress affects your condition. I’ll teach you at your own pace the new coping skills, that are based on how you find your disorder affects you. And we will work together to find strategies to address both your physical and emotional well-being. You'll start seeing improvements after a few weeks. During this process, I may jump between a teaching mode or helping with your processing, all we do in session will be based on what's needed in that moment to help you. I leverage my understanding of the latest pain and illness research to create resources that help clients through my volunteer work with BC Pain, and the Canadian Pain Society. Through using this information, we will collaborate and find ways to increase your quality of life, balance all the things you need to manage, and bring back feelings of control and authenticity.
Together We Address Interpersonal Issues: Navigating relationships can be tough without chronic health issues, and it’s especially tough when dealing with low energy, work, or parenthood. I’ll help you improve your interpersonal skills and manage issues that arise. As a parent of young ones and someone who balances work, friendships, holidays, and family obligations, I can relate to the drain and overwhelm that comes with it all. We'll work together to problem-solve whatever's happening and make it easier to connect, and maintain meaningful relationships.
Manage The Anxiety and Stress of a New Disorder: as uncertainty and stress of a new diagnosis can be overwhelming. Believe me, I get it! It can feel like your world’s been turned upside down, and life isn’t going the way you thought it would. We’ll get through this together. We can work to manage how your treatments or symptoms affect your life. Often, this includes processing the experiences of being diagnosed and learning skills that help you regain a feeling of control and calm.
Rebalance Your Life with Illness and Stress: Juggling daily responsibilities while managing your health can feel like an impossibly daunting full-time task. I know! I’ve dealt with it for 15 years while going to school, having kids, and running a business. This is very much a lived experience for me. Along the way, we’ll laugh, and I’ll provide you with practical strategies based on my experiences, then rebalance you with evidence-based theories that helped me. Together we’ll find your balance and reduce your stress, allowing you to live a more enjoyable life.
Untangle Stuck Points in Your Healing Journey: Sometimes our progress feels hindered, and there are pieces that are really hard to get past. Trauma can be like trying to untangle a ball of yarn, but it’s an area I have a passion for. We’ll learn about how the brain handles trauma, identify the symptoms, and find ways to address these barriers, helping you move forward in your healing journey. These are all things we can cope with, and the best part is you won’t be alone in it.
Survive and Thrive During Crises: In particularly tough times, finding the strength to carry on can be daunting and feel impossible. I’ll support you with strategies and skills to help you survive, talk through it, and find your own ways to thrive through these crises. I have a big toolbox from my years of schooling, work, and advocacy efforts, to pull coping skills from. Don’t worry, we can find one that fits you.
Reduce feelings of isolation: Connecting with a compassionate therapist who understands your medical experiences and can offer you the tools and support you need can be a game changer. You can meet with me online each week and feel like someone truly understands what you're going through. Start to picture a life where you feel empowered and in control again. We can get there. If you’re ready, take the first step by scheduling your free consultation or booking online today.
I look forward to supporting you on your journey to improved well-being.
Warm regards,
Elysia Bronson RCC
Email: elysiabronson@thewoodscounselling.com
Registered Clinical Counsellor, Psychotherapist
Licensed Professional Counselor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors.
Interprofessional Special Interest Group Co-Chair of the Canadian Pain Society
Your important to Us.
If you just need the space to vent, we’ve got you covered. If you need great tools and strategies that you can implement into everyday life, we have those too. If you want to tackle some really difficult struggles with family and relationships, we get it and we’re here. Need help sorting through a mountain of anxiety, grief and pain, that’s our specialty. Whatever you’re going through, how ever hard it may be, we want you to know we care and we’re going to be here.
Free Counselling Resources
Not sure how to start counselling? We made a Free Counselling Starter Pack that gives you a little guidance. Or check out our New Free Online Chronic Disease Self-Management Program.
We want you to leave with resources, so make sure you go check out our online resource page where we provide free counselling tools like our Pacing Handouts, Brain Fog Workbooks, Trauma Containment Strategies and more.
The Blog
Stay up to date with the latest information on trauma research, stress and chronic illness management, self-care tools, and other virtual therapy tips by staying up to date with our blog.