Dr. Kristen Pavela, LCSW

Dr. Kristen Pavela is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a doctorate in social work and about 10 years of clinical experience. She practices from Wisconsin and has helped people facing stress, anxiety, addiction, trauma, depression, and relationship problems. Her manner is warm and interactive, and she focuses on treating each person with respect and compassion.

Dr. Pavela blends practical tools with conversational therapy. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people spot and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. She also draws on client-centered listening, motivational interviewing to support change, and psychodynamic ideas about patterns that repeat over time.

In sessions she works to tailor conversations and plans to each person’s needs. That can include short-term skills for sleep, anger, or cravings, as well as longer work on attachment, identity, or trauma. She aims to reduce stigma and to notice strengths people can build on.

Her background includes clinical social work and substance abuse counseling. People come for a range of concerns such as parenting strain, grief, eating or intimacy issues, ADHD, and compassion fatigue. She approaches these topics with curiosity rather than judgment.

Therapy options include video, phone, live chat, and text-based messaging. Dr. Pavela supports people who want practical steps and thoughtful conversation to manage life changes, improve relationships, and regain emotional balance.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Dr. Pavela commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice thought and behavior patterns that keep problems going and then practice new skills to change them. She also uses Client-Centered Therapy, which focuses on listening, empathy, and following each person’s pace to build trust and clarity.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. She will collaborate with each person to match methods to goals, needs, and preferences, and can adjust the plan as progress is made. That means trying skills-based work for short-term problems or deeper conversation for longer-standing patterns.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging, so people can pick what fits their life. Video lets for face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone works well when bandwidth is limited or for a quick check-in. Live chat and text messaging can help with brief updates, written reflections, or when a person prefers messaging over calls. These options aim to make therapy more flexible and easier to fit into work, caregiving, or busy schedules.