Deborah Thoennes , LPC

Deborah Thoennes is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Wisconsin who helps people facing stress, anxiety, trauma, low self-esteem, and depression. She focuses on practical, everyday changes that make life more manageable. Her style is respectful and compassionate, and she works to tailor sessions to each person’s needs.

With 15 years of professional experience, Deborah draws on a handful of common therapeutic approaches to guide conversations. She uses client-centered methods to keep the person's priorities front and center. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is part of her toolbox for changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors.

She also brings elements of emotionally-focused and mindfulness-based work to help people notice feelings and cope with them in healthier ways. Sessions are adapted to the issue at hand, whether that is grief, relationship concerns, parenting strain, or managing chronic health problems. Deborah pays attention to how life transitions affect mental well-being and practical functioning.

Deborah treats concerns related to ADHD, bipolar mood issues, compassion fatigue, and a wide range of interpersonal and life-stress topics. She supports people dealing with body image, adoption and foster care histories, aging-related stress, caregiver strain, cancer, and chronic illness. The aim is steady progress through clear goals and realistic steps.

Her approach emphasizes collaboration. Deborah will work with each person to build a plan that fits their situation and pace. She encourages small, sustainable changes and checks in often to make sure the plan still feels right.

Approaches and online options that meet you where you are

Client-centered work keeps the person's goals and values at the heart of every session, letting the therapist follow the client's lead and shape sessions around what matters most. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on spotting and shifting unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors so people feel and function better day to day. Emotionally-Focused Therapy helps people identify and process strong emotions, which can ease relationship strain and personal suffering.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapy process. Deborah will talk with each person about what feels most useful, and then together they will try methods that match the client’s needs, goals, and preferences. Adjustments are made as progress is tracked so the work stays relevant and practical.

Online sessions are available via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to offer flexibility. Video calls are useful for deeper conversations and visual connection, phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited, live chat can be a quick check-in, and messaging suits brief updates or ongoing support between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life.