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LCSW

Wendie Vanderwater, LCSW

  • Experience22 years
  • LocationMontana
  • Focus areasADHD, Stress and Anxiety, and Relationship
  • Therapy approachesClient-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
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About Wendie

Wendie Vanderwater is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with 22 years of experience helping people navigate stress, anxiety, trauma, relationship struggles, and a wide range of life transitions. She emphasizes a straightforward, nonjudgmental stance and works collaboratively to tailor treatment to each client's preferences and needs.

Background and approach

Wendie encourages practical steps alongside therapeutic work, suggesting activities like volunteering or joining groups when helpful to complement sessions. Her practice blends several evidence-based methods, including cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy, with mindfulness and motivational interviewing as needed.

Clients can expect a mix of structured tools and compassionate inquiry - sometimes including journaling or homework, and sometimes focusing purely on in-session exploration depending on what the person wants. Wendie sees challenges as opportunities to identify effective strategies and supports clients in discovering approaches that fit their life and goals.

Approaches That Translate Well to Online Care



Wendie commonly uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help people identify unhelpful thinking patterns and try new behaviors; CBT is often used for anxiety, depression, stress, and coping with life changes. She also relies on dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills in daily practice, teaching emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness tools that can be learned and practiced between sessions.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will ask questions about a client's concerns, preferences, and goals and then suggest techniques or combinations of methods to try. Clients decide how active they want therapy to be, including whether to use homework like journaling or focus solely on in-session reflection.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, making it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules or to continue care from different locations within the therapist's service area. These formats support ongoing skill practice, quick check-ins, and consistent access to licensed professionals who can adapt methods like CBT and DBT to the online setting.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Wendie commonly address?
Her practice includes work with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, eating and parenting concerns, ADHD, and many other life challenges.
What approach does she take in therapy sessions?
She blends client-centered listening with structured methods like CBT and DBT, adding mindfulness and motivational interviewing as appropriate to fit each person's goals.
How much clinical experience does she bring?
She has 22 years of experience working with a broad range of concerns and combines practical strategies with empathic support.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
Wendie holds the LCSW credential and practices in Montana; her license is listed as MT LCSW BBH-LCSW-LIC-32399.
Does she see clients who speak other languages or live abroad?
She provides services in English and is not currently accepting international clients.
Which session formats are available for working together?
Sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and needs.
How is pricing handled for her services?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What steps are required to begin therapy?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a brief matching questionnaire, and schedule appointments according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseSelf esteemDepression

Also works with

LGBTFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeCaregiver issues and stressCo-morbidityCommunication problemsControl issuesDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)EmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameImpulsivityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMood disordersObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaTraumatic brain injuryYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

22+ years

Licensed

Montana

Languages

English

What Wendie can help with

Wendie Vanderwater works with clients on stress and anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, self esteem, and depression.

How Wendie approaches therapy

Wendie's clinical approaches include Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Trauma-Focused Therapy.

Wendie uses DBT and CBT.

Experience and training

Wendie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker practicing in Montana.