Racheal Pluim-Bergmann , LCSW

Racheal Pluim-Bergmann is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) practicing in Wisconsin. She brings 12 years of experience helping people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, trauma, and relationship struggles. Her work often addresses women's issues alongside a broad range of life challenges.

Racheal starts by listening so she can understand each person's story. Sessions focus on practical steps people can use right away. She helps clients build clearer communication, stronger self-worth, and better coping habits.

Her background includes training in several approaches that guide how she works with clients. She uses client-centered techniques to follow each person's lead, cognitive behavioral tools to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, and EMDR for trauma-related memories when appropriate. Mindfulness and dialectical behavior strategies are woven in to teach emotion regulation and present-moment skills.

People meet Racheal for help with issues like grief, intimacy-related concerns, body image, codependency, and substance use. She also supports those coping with overwhelming guilt, shame, abandonment, or career stress. Her aim is to help clients find practical ways forward rather than quick fixes.

Therapy sessions can include talking, structured skill practice, and goal-focused planning. Racheal frames therapy as a collaborative process and works with each person to set realistic steps. Those interested in starting complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule a first session.

Approaches that translate well to online therapy

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on following the client's pace and priorities. In practice this looks like the therapist asking about what matters most, reflecting back what they hear, and shaping sessions around the person's goals. This approach is useful for people who need someone to listen and help them make choices.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions. Online CBT often uses short exercises and homework to try new ways of thinking and behaving between sessions. It can help with anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and unhealthy habits.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, EMDR, addresses disturbing memories and the feelings they bring up. When appropriate, parts of EMDR work can be adapted to remote formats to reduce the intensity of trauma memories and improve daily functioning.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Racheal will talk through options with each person and decide together which methods fit their needs, goals, and comfort level. The plan can be adjusted as therapy progresses to focus on what helps most.

Online sessions offer flexibility for different life schedules. Video calls allow real-time interaction and visual cues, phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited, and live chat or text-based messaging suit brief check-ins or ongoing support between meetings. These formats make it easier to fit therapy into work breaks, caregiving routines, or when travel is difficult.