Toni Hernalsteen , LMSW

Toni Hernalsteen is a Michigan-based licensed therapist with 17 years of experience working with individuals, couples, and groups. She focuses on a wide range of concerns including stress and anxiety, addictions, grief and loss, depression, relationship challenges, aging, trauma, and many life transitions. Her practice also addresses issues such as parenting, sleep difficulties, anger, self-esteem, career concerns, and compassion fatigue.

Toni holds an LMSW, which stands for Licensed Master Social Worker, and she also holds an Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor credential in Michigan (CAADC). She combines structured and client-centered methods, drawing on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Family Systems Therapy, and Client-Centered approaches. Additional training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Motivational Interviewing, and Mindfulness informs her work when those methods fit a client’s needs.

Known for creative, outside-the-box thinking, Toni aims to help clients locate motivation and build perseverance. She listens actively, treats people with sensitivity and compassion, and tailors dialogue and treatment plans to each person’s unique needs. Toni strives to create a reflective space where clients can build understanding of themselves and move toward their goals, acknowledging that starting therapy often takes courage.

Evidence-Based Approaches and Online Care

Toni Hernalsteen draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to guide online work. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify values, accept uncomfortable thoughts or feelings, and commit to actions that align with what matters most - it can be useful for anxiety, stress, and life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and developing practical skills to shift those patterns, which often helps with depression, anxiety, and coping with addiction.

Choosing the right approach is collaborative. Toni works with each person to explore which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adapting strategies over time so the plan remains relevant and effective.

Online therapy offers flexible options for meeting - video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging - making it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules or to continue care from a distance. These formats allow licensed professionals like Toni to provide consistent support, skill-building, and accountability while accommodating each client’s life and availability.