PuttingFamilyFirst

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DS Portrait of Denise Stinson
Online therapist

Denise Stinson

Compassionate help for hard family moments

Credentials
LMSW
Experience
10 years
Licensed in
Michigan
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Denise

Denise Stinson is a licensed master social worker who focuses on practical help for people dealing with grief, anxiety, depression, stress, and life changes. She presents a calm, nonjudgmental approach and aims to make the work straightforward and useful. Parents and caregivers often find her style clear and direct when they need guidance through difficult moments.

Denise draws on ten years of practice in Michigan, with experience supporting people facing chronic illness, caregiving strain, hospice and end-of-life concerns, and aging or geriatric issues.

Background and approach

She uses simple tools from cognitive behavioral therapy to spot unhelpful thinking and from motivational interviewing to build momentum toward change. Narrative and solution-focused ideas help clients reframe their stories and set small, realistic goals. Sessions emphasize the client’s strengths and the supports already around them.

Denise keeps language plain and concrete, so conversations lead to specific next steps. She also knows how to connect people to community resources when extra help is needed. The work is collaborative: Denise listens first, then helps design a plan that fits daily life.

Many people appreciate that approach when they are coping with loss, illness, or major shifts in routine. Her practice offers multiple ways to meet, including video calls, phone, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different schedules and needs.

How these approaches work online

Client-Centered Therapy means the conversation begins with the person’s concerns and priorities. The therapist listens closely and follows the client's lead to build trust and clarity, which helps when people are sorting through grief or major life changes.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing them against real-life evidence. It uses practical exercises and small behavior changes to reduce anxiety or depression symptoms and to improve daily functioning.

Choosing the right method is a collaborative process. Denise helps clients try approaches and adjusts the plan based on what feels helpful. Goals, preferences, and daily life are central when deciding which techniques to use.

Online sessions offer flexibility for busy schedules and for those who find travel difficult. Video calls let people talk face to face, phone sessions are useful when video isn't convenient, and live chat or text-based messaging can support short check-ins or work between appointments. These options make it easier to keep therapy consistent and fit it into real life.

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.

Motivational Interviewing

A way of working through mixed feelings about change without being pushed. The therapist helps you weigh things up and find your own reasons, which often makes a difficult decision feel less stuck.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Denise commonly address?
She works with grief, stress, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, family matters, and coping with life changes. Her practice also focuses on caregiving stress, chronic illness, cancer, aging, and end-of-life issues.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
The approach is nonjudgmental and practical. Sessions focus on clients' strengths and on clear steps to move forward using tools from CBT, narrative ideas, and motivational interviewing.
What background does she bring to sessions?
She has ten years of experience working in Michigan with people facing depression, anxiety, caregiving challenges, chronic pain and end-of-life concerns. That experience shapes a straightforward, resource-oriented practice.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
Denise holds a Licensed Master Social Worker credential, listed as MI LMSW 6801092777, and practices in Michigan.
Which languages are available for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
In what formats can sessions take place?
Clients can meet by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on preference and situation.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What should someone do to begin therapy?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Next step

Talk to Denise

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