Wendie Vanderwater, LCSW

Wendie Vanderwater is a licensed clinical social worker with more than two decades of experience. She helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and intimacy-related concerns, and a range of life changes. Her manner is direct and down-to-earth, and she aims to be nonjudgmental and straightforward in sessions.

Wendie lets clients choose how they want to work. Some people prefer concrete homework and skill practice. Others want to focus on talking and reflection. She often blends approaches such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy to match what helps each person most.

Mindfulness and journaling are common tools in her work. She uses questions to uncover what a person needs and to shape the plan together. Wendie encourages active steps outside sessions, like volunteering or joining groups, to support mood and connection.

Her career includes long-term experience with trauma and abuse, eating concerns, ADHD, caregiver stress, and issues tied to identity such as LGBT and gender dysphoria. The profile also notes a focus on aging and geriatric issues and related caregiver concerns.

Wendie emphasizes practical, everyday steps alongside in-session work. She will discuss options with each person and tailor the mix of skills, journaling, and conversation to match goals and comfort level.

How Wendie’s approaches translate to online work

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on the person’s goals and pace, with the therapist listening and reflecting so clients steer the work. It helps when someone wants a collaborative, respectful space to talk through problems and decisions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and teaches practical skills to change them. It is useful for anxiety, depression, mood shifts, and coping with life changes.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, DBT, emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal skills. It is often used every day in Wendie’s practice to help manage strong emotions and improve relationships.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. Wendie will work with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences. That conversation usually includes whether to use skills practice, journaling, mindfulness, or homework and how intensively to work on each area.

If you plan to try online therapy, confirm the specific session formats before booking so you know what is offered. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and support continuing treatment through life transitions. Licensed professionals can adapt these approaches so practical skills and reflection fit into everyday routines.