Wendie Vanderwater , LCSW

Wendie Vanderwater is an LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) with 22 years of experience supporting people through a wide range of life challenges. She brings a straightforward, honest style to therapy and aims to create a nonjudgmental space where clients can explore what is getting in the way of feeling better. Wendie adapts treatment to each person, blending methods that suit individual needs and preferences rather than following a single rigid approach.

She invites clients to choose how they want to work - whether that includes structured homework or a focus on in-session exploration - and commonly combines approaches such as DBT and CBT to address emotion regulation, thinking patterns, and daily coping skills. Mindfulness practices and journaling are often used as tools to help people connect with their feelings and notice patterns in their thinking.

Wendie uses DBT regularly because she has seen its effectiveness in clinical work, and she asks questions to understand what each person needs. She frames difficulties as opportunities to discover practical strategies that fit the client. Outside of therapy tasks, she encourages active engagement in life - for example volunteering or joining a book club - as part of a broader plan to support wellbeing.

Online therapy with client-centered and skills-based approaches

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors. It is practical in orientation and can help with anxiety, depression, stress, and many everyday problems by teaching skills to reframe thinking and build healthier habits.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, emphasizes skills for managing intense emotions, improving interpersonal effectiveness, and tolerating distress. DBT combines skills training with a focus on acceptance and change, which can be especially helpful for people who struggle with strong mood swings or relationship challenges.

Mindfulness Therapy encourages present-moment awareness and gentle attention to thoughts and feelings. Simple practices such as breathing techniques and journaling are used to increase emotional awareness and reduce reactivity.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Wendie works collaboratively with each person to explore which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences, adjusting the plan as progress unfolds.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can be scheduled as video calls or phone sessions, and brief check-ins can happen through live chat or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to access regular support, integrate skills into daily life, and maintain continuity of care with licensed professionals and therapists.