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DT Portrait of Deborah Thoennes
Online therapist

Deborah Thoennes

Compassionate, practical support for life’s hardest moments

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Credentials
LPC
Experience
15 years
Licensed in
Wisconsin
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Deborah

Deborah Thoennes is a licensed professional counselor who focuses on practical support for people feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, grief, or major life changes. She speaks plainly and creates an open space to talk through what feels hardest. Deborah encourages small, doable steps toward clearer thinking and better daily routines.

She uses a mix of well-known approaches to match each person’s needs. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps identify unhelpful thinking patterns and replace them with workable alternatives.

Background and approach

Emotionally-Focused Therapy guides people through understanding and naming strong feelings so relationships and self-understanding can shift. Mindfulness exercises are used to calm the body and notice thoughts without getting swept away. Deborah brings 15 years of professional experience to her work.

She is licensed as a Licensed Professional Counselor - LPC in Wisconsin (WI LPC 5260-125). Her practice addresses a wide range of concerns including depression, parenting stress, relationship and communication problems, trauma and abuse, eating and body image issues, and challenges related to caregiving and chronic illness. She aims for respectful and compassionate conversations.

Sessions are shaped to fit each person rather than following a rigid script. That can mean skill-building one week and deeper emotional work the next. Deborah offers in-person work in Wisconsin and online formats that let people connect from home.

She works in English and does not take international clients. Starting simply and staying practical are central to her approach.

How Deborah’s Approaches Translate to Online Therapy

Client-Centered Therapy centers conversations on what matters to the person in front of the therapist. Online sessions use that same focus to let the client guide topics, pace, and goals while the therapist listens and reflects. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and changing behaviors. It works well online because homework, worksheets, and short skill practice can be shared between sessions and reviewed during video or chat.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Deborah will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their needs and preferences. That might mean starting with practical CBT techniques and adding mindfulness or emotionally-focused tools as the relationship progresses.

Online therapy offers flexibility for people juggling busy lives. Video calls approximate in-person conversation, phone sessions provide an alternative for those on the move, and live chat or text-based messaging allow brief check-ins and short, focused exchanges. These options make it easier to keep continuity of care while working toward clearer thinking, calmer responses, and better day-to-day coping.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)

Attends to the emotions underneath a recurring argument or distance, and to the attachment needs driving them. Often used where a relationship keeps returning to the same painful loop.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Deborah address?
She works with a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and abuse, parenting strain, relationship and communication problems, eating and body image concerns, ADHD, bipolar challenges, and caregiver stress.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Deborah blends client-centered listening with practical methods like cognitive behavioral strategies and mindfulness. Conversations aim to be respectful and focused on what is most useful for daily life.
How much professional experience does she have?
She has 15 years of professional work experience helping people with a broad set of mental health and life concerns.
What credentials and location apply to her practice?
Deborah is a Licensed Professional Counselor - LPC and practices in Wisconsin with license number WI LPC 5260-125.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are offered?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.
How are costs handled for sessions?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with Deborah?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience
15 years
Licensed
Wisconsin
Languages
English

Next step

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