Darlene Wilken
Practical, compassionate care for addiction and mental health
LPC, LPC-MHSP Tennessee
- Experience
- 8 years in practice
- Focus areas
- Addictions, Trauma and abuse, Grief
- Approaches
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
- Languages
- English
About Darlene
Darlene Wilken is a licensed professional counselor with LPC and LPC-MHSP credentials who has spent eight years working in mental health and addiction settings.
Background and approach
She began her career in inpatient treatment supporting adults with co-occurring mental health and substance use challenges and currently works in a clinic treating individuals with opiate addictions while also addressing a range of mental health diagnoses. Her background includes work with mood disorders, anxiety, ADHD, trauma and abuse, and substance use concerns including drug and alcohol addiction.
Her therapeutic approach blends cognitive behavioral techniques with dialectical behavior skills, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and client-centered principles. Darlene emphasizes a warm, interactive style that prioritizes respect, sensitivity, and compassion, and she individualizes treatment plans to match each person’s needs.
She has supported clients through grief, stress and life transitions, relationship and intimacy-related issues, parenting and career concerns, and challenges related to identity and LGBT matters. Darlene accepts clients in Tennessee and is available to work with international clients in English.
She offers a range of session formats and frames treatment collaboratively, helping clients set practical goals and develop skills for managing symptoms and navigating life changes.
Evidence-Informed Approaches for Online Care
Darlene draws from cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy to structure remote sessions in ways that promote practical skill-building and emotional regulation. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can help with anxiety, depression, and many everyday stressors. Dialectical behavior therapy offers skills for managing intense emotions, improving interpersonal effectiveness, and reducing impulsive behaviors, which is often useful for clients coping with trauma, mood instability, or substance use challenges.
Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. She works with clients to explore goals, preferences, and what techniques feel most helpful, adjusting methods over time to match progress and changing needs. This cooperative method helps tailor treatment plans that fit an individual’s circumstances and priorities.
Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility for different lifestyles and schedules. These formats make it easier to access consistent support from licensed professionals without the need to travel, and they allow clients to practice skills between sessions using prompts and exercises discussed during meetings.
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Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
8+ years
Licensed
Wisconsin, Tennessee
Languages
English