Stefanie Johnson , LPC

Stefanie Johnson is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Wisconsin with 14 years of experience in the mental health field. She brings a broad clinical background gathered from work across inpatient hospitals, intensive outpatient programs, in-home therapy, case management, and outpatient settings, which has given her experience with a wide range of clinical concerns and levels of severity. Her clinical work has focused on depression, anxiety, complex trauma and post-traumatic stress, as well as severe and persistent mental illnesses such as schizophrenia; she has also worked extensively with family and relationship conflicts and anger-related issues.

Stefanie’s pathway into counseling began in high school and continued through her academic training. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology with a focus in Community Counseling from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Early in her career she worked as a case manager for the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare, supporting families involved in the foster care system, experience that shaped her commitment to direct clinical work.

Her approach is holistic, person-centered, and eclectic, grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with strong influence from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). She incorporates mindfulness techniques, values-based and solution-focused strategies, and is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for trauma work. Stefanie describes her role as facilitating conversations that help people discover practical ways to cope, manage, and move forward rather than simply giving advice; she balances empathy and warmth with a straightforward, results-oriented stance. After taking several years away from outpatient practice to care for her young, growing family, she finds that online counseling fits well with her current life while allowing her to continue supporting others.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Stefanie integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) into her online practice, a structured approach that helps people identify and shift unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. She also draws heavily on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which teaches practical skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and improving relationships - useful for clients facing intense emotions, relationship struggles, or mood instability. In addition, she is trained in EMDR, a trauma-focused method that supports processing distressing memories and reducing their ongoing impact for those with post-traumatic stress or complex trauma.

Finding the right approach is collaborative. Stefanie works with each person to understand their needs, goals, and preferences, then tailors treatment by combining methods that best fit their situation. She emphasizes practical skill-building alongside exploration of values and strengths so clients can see meaningful progress over time.

Online therapy with Stefanie offers flexibility and accessibility through multiple formats - video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, maintain continuity during life transitions, and access licensed professionals from different locations, while preserving the therapeutic focus and support of regular sessions.