Kristen Paeth , LCSW, LICSW

Kristen Paeth is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) based in Wisconsin with eight years of clinical experience supporting people through complex life challenges. She has worked extensively with anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addiction, relationship and family issues, grief, parenting concerns, ADHD, bipolar disorder, stress and career struggles, and intimacy-related difficulties. Her additional areas of focus include caregiver stress, communication and control issues, domestic violence, and work with alternative sexual cultures such as BDSM and kink.

Before moving into independent practice, Kristen spent several years as a social worker in Child Protective Services and provided in-home therapy for autistic children, experiences that shaped her practical, strengths-based approach. She has particular experience working with adult males reentering society after incarceration and has supported clients coping with substance use, sex-related addictions, legal challenges, and family-of-origin problems. She is comfortable working with diverse clients across a range of life situations.

Kristen earned a Master of Social Work from the University of Wisconsin - Madison in 2017 and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. Her counseling style is client-centered, focusing on building rapport, meeting people where they are, and motivating progress. She integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused techniques, Mindfulness practices, and Motivational Interviewing to help clients set achievable goals and make meaningful changes.

Evidence-Based Approaches Adapted for Online Care

Kristen integrates client-centered therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and mindfulness techniques into her online work. Client-centered therapy focuses on building a trusting relationship and hearing each person’s unique story, helping clients feel understood and supported as they set goals. CBT offers practical tools to identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can be useful for anxiety, depression, stress, and many daily challenges. Mindfulness therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices that reduce reactivity and improve emotional regulation, benefiting people coping with trauma, grief, and chronic stress.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Kristen collaborates with clients to determine which methods fit best with their needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts techniques over time, combining approaches when helpful and adjusting the plan in partnership with each person.

Online sessions by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging offer flexibility for busy schedules, caregiving responsibilities, and people living outside urban centers. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care, meet consistently, and try different formats to see what works best. Licensed professionals can effectively deliver evidence-based tools and relational support through these online modalities, while tailoring the work to each client’s life and goals.