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Wendie Vanderwater, LCSW

Based in Montana Online sessions

Empathetic, practical therapy for stressed parents

Book with Wendie
Years in practice
22
Credentials
LCSW
Licensed in
Montana
Languages
English
Focus
Stress, Anxiety
Focus
Relationship issues
Focus
Trauma and abuse
About

About Wendie

Wendie Vanderwater is a licensed clinical social worker with 22 years of experience who focuses on practical help for people feeling overwhelmed by parenting, stress, anxiety, grief, and relationship concerns. She speaks plainly and works to create an honest, down-to-earth space where clients can talk through what matters.

Wendie encourages people to be gentle with themselves while also taking steps that lead to real changes. Her approach is collaborative. She asks questions to learn what each person needs and then adapts methods to fit those goals.

Background and approach

Sessions might include mindfulness exercises, journaling, skill-building from cognitive behavioral therapy, or strategies drawn from dialectical behavior therapy. Clients decide how much homework or outside activity feels right for them. Wendie often combines approaches instead of relying on just one.

She uses mindfulness to help people notice feelings and CBT or DBT tools to change unhelpful patterns. She also suggests practical activities like volunteering or joining a group to increase connection and purpose. Her work covers a wide range of concerns including parenting, trauma and abuse, depression, ADHD, grief, eating issues, intimacy-related struggles, and career stress.

She pays attention to family of origin issues, adoption and foster care matters, caregiver stress, and gender identity concerns when they are part of a person’s story. Based in Montana, Wendie offers sessions in English and aims to help people find approaches that fit their life. She encourages small, steady steps and values collaboration as clients work toward clearer goals.

Focus areas and approaches

What Wendie works with

Everything Wendie lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Wendie helps people with.

Approaches Wendie lists

Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.

Online support

Therapeutic approaches that translate to online care

Wendie commonly combines client-centered work with cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy. Client-centered therapy focuses on listening without judgment and shaping the work around what the person wants. This helps people talk through parenting worries, relationship stress, or general life strain in a way that feels respectful and personal. Cognitive behavioral therapy looks at thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going and uses practical exercises to change them, which can help with anxiety, depression, or unhelpful patterns at home. Dialectical behavior therapy teaches skills for managing strong emotions and improving communication, useful for intense stress, anger, or relationship conflicts.

Choosing the right mix of approaches is part of the work together. The therapist will ask questions about goals, daily routines, and what has or has not helped before. That information guides the plan, and adjustments are made as therapy continues so the approach fits each person's needs and preferences.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, offering flexibility for busy schedules. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when that matters, phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited, live chat or texts support quick check-ins, and messaging offers support between sessions. These options make it easier to keep therapy going around work, childcare, and other responsibilities.
Questions

Questions people ask about Wendie

What issues does Wendie help with?

She works with a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, parenting, trauma and abuse, grief, eating issues, intimacy-related problems, ADHD, and career-related stress.

What is her general therapy style?

She takes a down-to-earth, honest approach and adapts methods to each person. Sessions can include conversation, skills practice, mindfulness, and optional homework.

How much experience does she have?

Wendie has 22 years of experience as a licensed clinical social worker and has worked with many different concerns over that time.

Where is she located and what credential does she hold?

She practices in Montana and holds the credential LCSW, which stands for Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

Which languages are offered for sessions?

Sessions are offered in English.

What session formats does she use for online work?

She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging as ways to connect.

How does payment and cost work?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with her?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions based on the therapist's availability.

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