Dr. Wendy Whinnery , LMHC

Dr. Wendy Whinnery is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) practicing in New York with ten years of experience. She holds multiple professional certifications - she is a nationally certified counselor, a certified clinical mental health counselor, a certified clinical trauma professional, a credentialed grief specialist, and an approved clinical supervisor - and has completed advanced academic training with a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Capella University and a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision with a specialization in trauma and crisis from Walden University. LMHC indicates that she is licensed to provide professional mental health counseling in the state of New York.

As a military spouse of a combat veteran, she brings a deep familiarity with military culture and family dynamics, having served as a Family Readiness Group Leader for seven years and as a Battalion leader for three. Her clinical work addresses a range of concerns including depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, grief, PTSD, issues related to gender and sexuality, relationship challenges, and parenting matters. She emphasizes a person-centered stance while integrating techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy, solution-focused therapy, reality therapy, and rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT).

She prioritizes warmth, genuineness, and unconditional positive regard, operating from the belief that people are experts in their own lives and benefit from practical tools to facilitate change. Her approach aims to create an empathic environment in which individuals can begin working toward meaningful shifts in their lives.

Therapeutic Approaches for Online Care

Dr. Whinnery practices from a person-centered framework, often called client-centered therapy, which focuses on building a respectful and empathic relationship to support personal growth and self-directed change. This approach is helpful for clients seeking a collaborative, accepting space to explore personal concerns.

She also uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a practical method that helps people identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors; CBT is often used for anxiety, depression, and many stress-related difficulties. Additionally, solution-focused therapy is employed to help clients set clear goals and identify strengths and small, achievable steps toward change, which can be useful for relationship, parenting, and life-transition concerns.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the process, and licensed professionals and therapists work collaboratively with clients to determine which methods best match individual needs, goals, and preferences. Online therapy options - including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging - make it easier to fit counseling into busy lives, offer more scheduling flexibility, and increase access for those managing work, family, or mobility challenges.