Charlene Thiede , LMSW, LISW

Charlene Thiede is a licensed clinical social worker who practices with a person-centered, strengths-based orientation that begins from where a person is in the present and builds on existing resources to support change. She holds the credentials LMSW and LISW - explained as Licensed Master Social Worker and Licensed Independent Social Worker - and is licensed to practice in both Michigan and Iowa. Charlene’s clinical training includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Play Therapy for children, and Solution-Focused Therapy among other approaches, allowing her to tailor interventions to each individual or family she sees.

She began her career as a school social worker, gaining direct experience with the challenges children face in educational settings and developing a specialty in working with children and their families. Later roles included providing behavioral health counseling in a private mental health clinic and working within a large family service agency, offering support to children, adolescents, and adults. In sessions she focuses on exploring the problems a person is facing, clarifying the changes they want, and identifying practical steps to move forward.

Her guiding aim for each appointment is that people leave feeling more hopeful and more confident about their next steps. A receptionist once told her that people would arrive looking sad and leave with a smile - an observation that Charlene appreciates and that reflects her focus on positive, strength-based change.

How Charlene's Approaches Translate to Online Therapy

Client-centered therapy emphasizes listening to a person’s experience and supporting them to find their own path forward. In practice this approach helps with issues like depression, self-esteem, relationship concerns, and life transitions by foregrounding the person’s goals and strengths rather than applying one fixed technique.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and replacing them with more adaptive alternatives. CBT is useful for anxiety, stress, depression, addictions, and other patterns that respond to practical skill-building and structured exercises.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, teaches concrete skills for regulating intense emotions, improving interpersonal effectiveness, and tolerating distress. DBT can be especially helpful when emotions feel overwhelming, when anger or relationship conflicts are frequent, or when consistent coping skills are needed.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the therapeutic process. Charlene works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adapting strategies as progress is made.

Online therapy with Charlene is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to provide flexibility and easier access. These options allow people to engage in counseling from their own settings, fit sessions into busy schedules, and continue work between appointments, making it simpler to maintain momentum toward personal goals.