Wendie Vanderwater , LCSW

Wendie Vanderwater brings 22 years of experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker to her practice in Montana, working with a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, relationships, trauma, depression, and parenting challenges. She emphasizes a straightforward, nonjudgmental style and focuses on practical, individualized care that honors each person’s preferences and pace. Wendie explains that LCSW stands for Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a credential indicating specialized training in assessment, diagnosis, and therapeutic interventions.

Her approach is collaborative and flexible - she adapts treatment to what helps the individual most, whether that means structured skill-building, reflective conversation, or a mix of strategies. She commonly integrates approaches like Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and values mindfulness and journaling as tools to deepen emotional awareness. Clients can choose how involved they want to be in the process, including whether to use between-session assignments or to focus solely on in-session work.

Wendie views challenges as opportunities to discover effective, personalized strategies. She encourages active engagement in life as part of healing and growth - for example, volunteering or joining community activities to build connection and purpose. Her practice aims to be practical, compassionate, and rooted in methods that fit each person’s goals and lifestyle.

Approaches That Guide Online Therapy

Wendie often integrates Client-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to tailor care to each person. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathy, respectful listening, and collaboration so the client feels heard and supported while exploring personal goals and values. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying and changing patterns of thought and behavior that contribute to mood and anxiety concerns, making it useful for stress, depression, and anxiety.

She also frequently uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills when appropriate, teaching practical techniques for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and improving relationships. These approaches are selected and blended based on the client’s needs rather than applied as a one-size-fits-all solution. Wendie works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods feel most helpful and to adjust the plan as progress unfolds.

Online therapy with Wendie is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care, fit sessions into a busy life, and access therapeutic support from familiar surroundings while working with a licensed professional.