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LCSW

Tonya Carpenter, LCSW

  • Experience7 years
  • LocationMontana
  • Focus areasStress and Anxiety, Addictions, and Trauma and abuse
  • Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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About Tonya

Tonya Carpenter is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Montana who draws on seven years of clinical experience to support people facing stress, addiction, trauma, depression, anxiety, and a wide range of life challenges.

Background and approach

She approaches clients with direct, clear communication while keeping a warm, nonjudgmental stance, believing that individuals are not broken but doing their best with the tools they have. Tonya aims to partner with clients to improve daily functioning and overall quality of life.

Her background includes hospital-based counseling, six years in independent practice, work in schools as a behavior intervention specialist, and experience supporting adults with disabilities. Tonya earned a Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California with an emphasis in Military and Veterans Affairs and brings additional experience working with military-related concerns.

She integrates evidence-based techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance-oriented approaches alongside trauma-focused methods to tailor care to each person's needs.

Integrating evidence-based approaches into online care



Internal Family Systems (IFS) views the mind as made up of distinct parts and helps people notice and dialogue with those parts to reduce inner conflict and heal from trauma. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying values, increasing psychological flexibility, and using acceptance and mindful action to address anxiety, depression, and life transitions. Attachment-Based Therapy explores patterns formed in early relationships to improve current relational functioning and emotional regulation, which can be especially helpful for intimacy and communication struggles.

Choosing the right approach is collaborative rather than fixed. The therapist will work with each client to identify which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adapting techniques over time as progress and circumstances change. Clients are involved in decisions about pace and focus so care stays aligned with what matters to them.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to maintain consistent care while balancing work, family, or geographic constraints, and therapists can use the chosen modalities to apply the approaches above in ways that suit the client's situation.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Tonya address?
She works with a broad range of issues including stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, depression, relationship and family matters, grief, intimacy difficulties, eating concerns, parenting and anger, as well as bipolar disorder and ADHD.
What therapeutic style can someone expect in sessions?
Tonya combines a direct, upfront communication style with a warm, nonjudgmental presence and uses client-centered, strengths-based and solution-focused strategies to collaborate on goals.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has seven years of clinical experience that include hospital counseling, six years in independent practice, school-based behavioral support, and work with adults with disabilities.
What credentials and location are listed for this therapist?
Tonya holds an LCSW and practices in Montana. Credential details are MT LCSW BBH-LCSW-LIC-42645.
Does she offer services in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not currently accepting international clients.
Which session formats are available for online work?
She provides multiple formats including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to meet different needs and preferences.
How are fees and payment handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin working together?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyAddictionsTrauma and abuseSelf esteemDepression

Also works with

Relationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesBody 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 violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEmptinessFamily problemsFatherhood issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameImpulsivityIsolation / lonelinessMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disordersNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSmoking / vaping cessationSocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

7+ years

Licensed

Montana

Languages

English