Dr. Lori Dougherty, LMFT

Dr. Lori Dougherty uses a practical, relationship-focused approach to help people make real changes. She combines clear tools with listening to understand each person's situation. Dr. Dougherty is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and she brings ten years of clinical experience to her work in Colorado.

She helps people manage stress and anxiety and works with depression, grief, and trauma. She also supports people coping with addictions and struggles around intimacy and self-esteem. Relationship and family concerns are a frequent focus, including parenting strain and communication problems.

In sessions she draws on cognitive behavioral therapy to identify unhelpful thoughts and build different habits. She also uses client-centered techniques to follow the person's priorities and dialectical behavior therapy skills to teach emotion regulation and coping tools. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing and mindfulness practices are available when they fit the goals.

Her style is direct and collaborative. She listens first, then offers practical steps and short-term goals people can try between sessions. Work is tailored to each person's needs rather than a one-size-fits-all plan.

People who choose her often want clear strategies as well as a steady, respectful therapeutic relationship. She encourages small changes that add up to better daily coping and clearer choices about relationships, substance use, and life direction.

How therapy methods translate to online care

CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. Online CBT sessions include goal-setting, thought records, and practical homework that people can do between sessions to reduce anxiety, manage mood, or address addictive behaviors.

Client-centered therapy centers on listening closely and following the person's priorities. In remote sessions this means using conversation and reflective feedback to clarify goals and build trust, so the person guides what work feels most useful.

Dialectical behavior therapy teaches skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and better interpersonal communication. These skills are practiced in session and reinforced with short exercises that fit daily life, helping with impulsivity, intense emotions, and relationship problems.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss symptoms, goals, and preferences and then recommend or combine methods that fit. Clients are invited to give feedback and adjust the plan as they go.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video calls work well for face-to-face conversation and skill demonstrations. Phone sessions can be easier when video is not practical or bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text messaging suit brief check-ins, coaching, or shorter exchanges between longer sessions. These options let people fit therapy into busy schedules and keep momentum between meetings.