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LPC

Deborah Thoennes, LPC

  • Experience15 years
  • LocationWisconsin
  • Focus areasStress and Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, and Self esteem
  • Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Client-Centered Therapy
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About Deborah

Deborah Thoennes is a licensed professional counselor in Wisconsin who focuses on supporting people navigating stress, anxiety, trauma, depression, self-esteem concerns, and life transitions. With 15 years of clinical experience, she emphasizes respectful, sensitive care and builds treatment plans that reflect each client's circumstances and goals.

Background and approach

Deborah frames therapy as a collaborative process and aims to meet people where they are while helping them move toward greater functioning and wellbeing. Her style blends practical and humanistic elements, drawing on client-centered principles alongside cognitive tools and relational work to address emotional pain, motivation, and confidence.

Deborah also works with concerns such as grief, relationship and communication problems, ADHD, compassion fatigue, eating and body image issues, caregiver stress, chronic illness and co-morbid conditions. She adapts her dialog and interventions to the specifics of a client's life so therapeutic work feels personally relevant and achievable.

Integrating therapeutic approaches into online care

Deborah integrates Internal Family Systems and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in her online practice to address internal conflicts and everyday patterns of thinking and behavior. Internal Family Systems helps people explore different parts of themselves and the relationships among those parts, which can be useful for processing trauma, managing intense emotions, and building self-understanding. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy offers structured techniques to identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, often helping with anxiety, depression, and stress-related challenges.

Choosing an approach is a collaborative process; Deborah works with each client to determine which methods best fit their needs, goals, and preferences and may blend elements from several models to match what is most helpful. Clients are invited to share their priorities so the plan evolves as work progresses.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase flexibility and access. These formats let clients maintain continuity of care around work, family, or mobility constraints and provide multiple ways to engage so therapy can fit into varied schedules and daily life.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does this therapist address?
She works with a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, depression, self-esteem, grief, relationship and communication problems, ADHD, eating and body image issues, caregiver stress, chronic illness, and related conditions.
What therapeutic approaches does she use in sessions?
Her work blends client-centered methods with cognitive behavioral techniques and emotionally-focused interventions, along with existential perspectives to explore meaning and values in a client's life.
How much clinical experience does the therapist have?
She brings 15 years of professional experience to her practice, drawing on that background to tailor treatment to individual needs.
What are the therapist's credentials and where is she licensed?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Wisconsin with license number WI LPC 5260-125.
Can I work with her if I live outside the United States?
She does not accept international clients at this time and works with clients located within her licensed region.
Which session formats are available for online work?
Sessions may be conducted via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different communication preferences.
How are fees and payment structured for ongoing sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time to provide flexibility.
What steps should I take to begin therapy with this clinician?
To get started select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Also works with

LGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefEating disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAvoidant personalityBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)DissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHoardingHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivityInfidelityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disordersNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSmoking / vaping cessationSocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family SystemsSystemic Therapy

Experience

15+ years

Licensed

Wisconsin

Languages

English