Paula Peterson, LPC - Therapist in Wisconsin

About Paula

Paula Peterson is a licensed professional counselor who uses a client-centered approach to help people through hard times. She draws on 18 years of experience to create a calm, straightforward therapy space. Paula speaks plainly and focuses on what a parent or adult needs right now.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, she will listen first and help you decide what to tackle together. Her work often centers on stress, anxiety, depression, and grief.

Background and approach

She also helps with anger, addictions, and life changes like career shifts or midlife challenges. Paula pays attention to self worth, communication problems, and family-related concerns that ripple into daily life. Paula learned mental health counseling at the University of Wisconsin–Stout and has practiced in both day treatment and outpatient settings.

That background gives her experience with trauma, post-traumatic stress, and hospice or end-of-life issues. She also has experience supporting people through postpartum depression and seasonal mood shifts. In sessions she uses tools from cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness to help people notice patterns and try practical changes.

She is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, which she may use when trauma memories are keeping someone stuck. Solution-focused methods help when a person wants quick, concrete steps. Paula aims to meet each person where they are.

She believes people have inner strengths that can be tapped with support and clear next steps. The tone in her work is warm, direct, and goal-oriented.

Approaches that guide online sessions

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and understanding a person's experience. The therapist creates a supportive space and follows the client's pace, which helps when someone needs to talk through stress, grief, or self-worth concerns.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts affect feelings and behavior. It uses clear exercises and small experiments to change unhelpful patterns, which can help with anxiety, depression, and workplace or relationship stress.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, EMDR, is a trauma-focused method used to reduce the intensity of painful memories. When past events keep affecting daily life, EMDR can be a option to help process those memories and lower their hold.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped before. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust the plan as needed.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls let people meet face to face from home, phone sessions work when screens are hard, and live chat or text messaging provide ongoing check-ins and short coaching between sessions. These options make it easier to fit counseling into a busy schedule and to continue work even during life transitions.

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.

EMDR

A structured protocol used with distressing memories, pairing recall with guided attention tasks. Some therapists adapt it for video sessions; whether that fits is worth asking about directly.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Paula address?

She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, anger, addictions, and many life changes. Additional focuses include communication problems, self esteem issues, postpartum depression, and workplace difficulties.

What is her therapy style like?

Her style is client-centered and practical. She listens first, then uses CBT, mindfulness, or solution-focused techniques to try small, useful changes.

How much clinical experience does she have?

Paula has 18 years of counseling experience working in day treatment and outpatient settings. That time includes work with trauma, grief, and mood concerns.

What are her credentials and where is she based?

She is a licensed professional counselor - LPC - with license number WI LPC 3934-125 and practices from Wisconsin.

Which languages are supported for sessions?

Sessions are offered in English.

What session formats are available?

She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.

How is cost handled for sessions?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with her?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Stress, Anxiety
Grief
Anger management

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 18 years
Licensed: Wisconsin
Languages: English

Next step

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