About
- CBT strategies
- DBT skills
- Mindfulness practice
About Wendie
Wendie Vanderwater is an LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) with 22 years of experience practicing in Montana. She works with adults on problems such as stress, anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, grief, parenting strain, trauma and abuse, and issues related to LGBT identity. Her approach also covers ADHD, bipolar disorder, eating concerns, and career or life transitions.
Wendie keeps sessions straightforward and practical. She talks with clients honestly and without judgment. Clients decide how much they want to do between sessions - from hands-on exercises to simply talking things through. She often combines methods to fit what actually helps a person in life.
Her toolbox includes cognitive behavioral techniques and dialectical behavior therapy skills used together when useful. Mindfulness and journaling are common parts of the work, helping people notice feelings and respond differently to stress. Motivational interviewing is used when someone wants help clarifying goals and getting started on change.
Wendie asks questions to identify what a person needs, then shapes sessions around those needs. She encourages practical activity outside sessions, such as volunteering or joining groups, to expand supports and reduce isolation. The focus is on finding routines and choices that make daily life steadier.
People come to her for help managing anger, coping with loss, repairing communication, and handling parenting pressures. She aims to find workable skills and small steps so clients can make ongoing progress in their own lives.
How sessions work
How Wendie uses evidence-based approaches online
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and responding to what matters most to the client. It helps clarify priorities and makes space for people to set their own goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions interact and teaches practical skills to change unhelpful patterns, which can help with anxiety, depression, and stress. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers skills for managing intense emotions and improving interpersonal effectiveness; it is often used alongside CBT techniques for stronger day-to-day coping.Choosing the right method is part of the work. Wendie collaborates with each person to decide which approaches fit their goals, preferences, and current challenges. That plan can change over time as needs evolve and progress is reviewed.
Specific online session formats are not listed in the source biography, so confirm current session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It also supports using tools like guided mindfulness exercises, journaling between sessions, and step-by-step skills practice that translate directly into home routines.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
22+ years
Listed in
Montana
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with adults on stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and parenting concerns, trauma and abuse, grief, and related issues such as ADHD and bipolar.
What is her therapy style like?
Her style is direct and nonjudgmental. She combines practical skills work with conversations and offers homework only if the client wants it.
How much experience does she have?
She has 22 years of clinical experience working with a wide range of adult concerns.
Where is she licensed and practicing?
She is an LCSW licensed in Montana and practices from that state.
Does she offer sessions in other languages?
Sessions are offered in English only.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How does payment work and what does it cost?
Cost varies by location; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is in danger, use the crisis numbers.