Charlene Thiede , LMSW, LISW

Charlene Thiede is a licensed social worker with 37 years of clinical experience. She practices in Iowa and brings a practical, down-to-earth style to sessions. Charlene focuses on helping people identify what they want to change and take realistic steps toward those goals.

Charlene begins by meeting people where they are now and looking for strengths to build on. She uses straightforward conversation to clarify problems and set small, doable goals. Many clients find this approach helpful when stress, anxiety, grief, depression, or issues with parenting and relationships feel overwhelming.

Her background includes work as a school social worker and as a clinician in both private and agency settings. That mix of roles gave her a wide view of how problems show up across ages and situations. She has long experience supporting people dealing with trauma, addictions, chronic illness, and life transitions.

In sessions Charlene mixes practical skills with reflective listening. She may use tools from cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, mindfulness, or motivational interviewing when they fit a person's needs. The focus stays on what helps the person move forward in daily life.

Charlene also addresses family-of-origin issues, communication problems, and concerns around intimacy and self-esteem. Her goal is for people to leave sessions with clearer choices and more confidence about next steps.

Approaches and online options for practical change

Charlene commonly draws on cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy when working online. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking and testing small behavior changes, which can be useful for anxiety, depression, and stress. DBT emphasizes skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and clearer communication, helping with intense emotions, relationship struggles, and anger.

She also uses a client-centered stance, which means sessions begin with the client's concerns and strengths. Finding the right approach is a collaborative process - the therapist will work with the person to try methods that match their goals and preferences and adjust as needed based on what helps.

Online therapy with Charlene is offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video lets people use face-to-face conversation when helpful, while phone sessions work well when bandwidth or movement is a concern. Live chat and text messaging can fit quick check-ins, brief coaching, or times when typing feels easier than speaking. These options make it easier to schedule regular work on goals and to keep momentum between sessions.