Spela Bertoncelj

Compassionate, skills-based care for everyday challenges

LCSW Montana

Experience: 4 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Anger
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages: English

About Spela

Spela Bertoncelj practices from a foundation of practical, evidence-informed methods that emphasize clear thinking and skills-building.

Background and approach

As an LCSW licensed in Montana, she draws on cognitive behavioral techniques to help clients notice and shift unhelpful patterns, while also using client-centered and dialectical strategies to validate experience and build emotional regulation. Her approach centers on collaboration and on identifying concrete tools that people can use between sessions.

With four years of professional experience, Spela focuses on common but impactful concerns including stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, anger, self-esteem, and coping with life changes. She also attends to related struggles such as attachment and abandonment issues, chronic pain and illness, communication difficulties, and feelings of isolation or loss of purpose.

She frames clients as the experts of their own stories and works to amplify strengths so change feels achievable. Spela encourages those taking the first step toward therapy and offers a supportive, goal-oriented space for exploration.

Her practice aims to balance skill development with empathic listening so clients leave sessions with actionable strategies and a clearer sense of direction.

How therapeutic approaches guide online care

Spela commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients identify patterns of thought and behavior that contribute to stress and anxiety, then practice new cognitive and behavioral strategies to reduce distress. She also integrates Client-Centered Therapy, which focuses on listening carefully to each person's experience and offering empathic support to foster self-directed growth. Together these approaches aim to combine practical skills with a validating therapeutic relationship to address issues like mood, trauma reactions, anger, and self-esteem concerns.

Choosing the right approach is treated as a collaborative process. The therapist works with each client to explore goals, preferences, and what feels most useful in session, and adapts methods over time so the plan fits the client's evolving needs and pace.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life and to access care from different locations. These flexible formats support ongoing skills practice, allow for check-ins between sessions, and can help people engage in therapy in ways that suit their comfort and schedule.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does this therapist work with?

Her primary focuses include stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, anger, self-esteem, and coping with life changes, with additional attention to areas like attachment, chronic pain, communication problems, and feelings of isolation.

What is the therapeutic style like?

She blends client-centered listening with evidence-informed methods such as CBT and DBT, aiming to validate experience while teaching practical skills for managing emotions and behaviors.

How much professional experience does she have?

She has four years of professional experience working with clients on issues such as anxiety, trauma, and life transitions.

What credentials and location are associated with this therapist?

Spela Bertoncelj holds an LCSW credential and is licensed in Montana under MT LCSW BBH-LCSW-LIC-72765.

Is language a barrier for international clients?

She provides services in English and does accept international clients, enabling access across different locations for English speakers.

Which session formats are offered?

Clients can meet via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on their preferences and schedule.

What should I know about cost and scheduling?

Costs vary with location and therapist availability, and sessions are delivered through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with this therapist?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Trauma and abuseAnger managementSelf esteem Coping with life changes

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAttachment issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCommunication problemsControl issuesDivorce and separationForgivenessGuilt and shame Impulsivity Isolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesMood disordersNarcissismPanic disorder and panic attacks Post-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Motivational InterviewingSolution-Focused Therapy

Experience

4+ years

Licensed

Montana

Languages

English