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WV Portrait of Wendie Vanderwater

Wendie Vanderwater

Compassionate clinician with practical strategies

LCSW Montana

Experience
22 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages
English
Continue with Wendie

About Wendie

Wendie Vanderwater is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with 22 years of experience helping people navigate stress, anxiety, mood concerns, relationship challenges, trauma, and a range of life transitions.

Background and approach

She aims to create a straightforward, nonjudgmental space where clients decide how they want to work - whether that includes practical homework, reflective journaling, or in-session exploration. Wendie emphasizes an honest, grounded approach that encourages activity and connection as part of emotional recovery.

Her practice blends evidence-informed methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and mindfulness, tailoring techniques to each person’s needs. She often combines approaches when helpful, for example pairing skills-based DBT tools with CBT strategies and mindfulness exercises to raise emotional awareness.

Wendie asks focused questions to identify what will be most effective for each client and supports small, actionable steps like volunteering or joining community groups to build wellbeing. Based in Montana, she works with a broad array of concerns including depression, grief, intimacy and eating issues, parenting and caregiver stress, ADHD, LGBT matters, and career or identity challenges.

Her style is pragmatic and collaborative, guiding clients toward strategies that fit their life and goals.

How evidence-based approaches translate to online care

Wendie commonly uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) as part of her online work. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and testing new behavioral strategies to change mood and functioning, which can help with anxiety, depression, and stress. DBT emphasizes skills for emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance, making it useful for intense emotions and relationship difficulties.

She also integrates client-centered and mindfulness elements, ensuring therapy is shaped around each person’s goals and values. Finding the right approach is a collaborative process; the therapist will ask questions, try techniques, and adjust the plan based on what feels most helpful for the client’s needs and preferences.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, offering flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options allow clients to access consistent care from Montana without traveling, and to use skills between sessions through written exercises or brief check-ins as needed.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Wendie commonly address?
She works with a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy concerns, grief, eating and parenting challenges, ADHD, and career or identity-related problems.
What therapeutic style can I expect in sessions?
Her approach is nonjudgmental and straightforward, combining practical skills, reflective work, and optional homework while honoring each person’s preferences for how they want to work.
How much clinical experience does she bring?
Wendie has 22 years of experience in social work and psychotherapy, drawing on that background to adapt methods to different needs and situations.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is credentialed as an LCSW with record MT LCSW BBH-LCSW-LIC-32399 and maintains a practice based in Montana.
Does she offer services in languages other than English?
Sessions are provided in English only and she is not accepting international clients at this time.
What session formats are available for working together?
Wendie offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and schedules.
How is cost handled for therapy with her?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are billed through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What steps are involved in beginning therapy?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule 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