I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Wisconsin with over 20 years of experience providing counseling and psychotherapy services in a variety of settings including residential treatment, outpatient psychotherapy, and vocational rehabilitation. I not only believe, I know, everyone has the ability to heal from past injuries, solve psychological problems, and improve their lives so that they are happier, more confident, and better able to achieve their life goals. I have worked with a wide range of people of all ages and backgrounds to help them solve the problems that brought them to therapy, learn and practice new skills, new ways of thinking, more effective ways to manage their lives to be more fulfilling, and move toward the goals they set for themselves. People come to therapy for a wide range of reasons; our first task is to identify what you want to change and need assistance with and develop a plan to achieve those goals. Some of the problems I've helped people work through include depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD resulting from a range of experiences (including abuse experienced as a child, domestic violence, and sexual assault), family problems, women's issues generally, various relationship problems, employment problems, and adjusting to many life changes.
A good working relationship is necessary for therapy to be successful. You are the expert on your life; this is your journey. My role is to be a guide, help you find perspective on yourself and your experiences, be a source of support and information, help you learn how to make the changes you wish to see in your life, and how to make those changes happen. I understand the importance of meeting you where you are. Therefore, our first task together is to establish that working relationship. You have to be able to trust your guide to be able to move forward, and that is a process in itself that can't be rushed. Once we've identified your goals, I use a variety of techniques drawn from different schools of psychotherapy to help you reach your them. Some of those techniques include client-centered, motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, internal family systems (IFS), mindfulness, and solution-focused strategies. I have also found particular energy medicine techniques (such as Emotional Freedom Technique, or EFT) to be very helpful in reducing and managing symptoms of anxiety and depression, sometimes very quickly. This can help you focus on deeper issues.
It is also important to consider how any physical health conditions and the people and environments you interact with affect you psychologically. It's important to take all of these factors into account to effectively help you heal and grow.
This is a very personal journey for everyone. I look forward to working with you!
Additional areas of focus: Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Grief, Intimacy-related issues, Eating disorders, Parenting issues, Anger management, Coping with life changes, Coaching, Compassion fatigue, Abandonment, Attachment issues, Blended Family Issues, Body image, Caregiver issues and stress, Chronic pain illness and disability, Codependency, Commitment Issues, Communication problems, Control issues, Coping with Natural or Human-Caused Disaster, Divorce and separation, Eating and Food-Related Issues, Emptiness, Family of Origin Issues, Family Problems, Fatherhood Issues, Guilt and shame, Impulsivity, Infidelity, Intellectual Disability, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Life purpose, Midlife crisis, Mood disorders , Post-traumatic stress, Prejudice and Discrimination, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-love, Sexual Assault and Abuse, Social anxiety and phobia, Women's issues, Workplace issues, Young Adult Issues
Clinical approaches: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Existential Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems
WI LPC 4237-125
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Gillian Van Dien. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
Gillian is amazing! Can’t recommend her enough
Written on Apr 17, 2024 after therapy with Gillian for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, grief, intimacy-related issues, sleeping disorders, self esteem, anger management, bipolar disorder, and adhd
Gillian has been essential to life changes for me. She listens and validates what I am saying, she offers insight to the issues I am having.
Written on Apr 14, 2024 after therapy with Gillian for 2 weeks on issues concerning relationship issues, family conflicts, eating disorders, and parenting issues
She makes me comfortable to be able to talk and listens to what I have to say.
Written on Apr 09, 2024 after therapy with Gillian for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, anger management, and coping with life changes
Gillian is by far the best therapist I have had. I had a hard time finding a therapist that was both empathetic and straightforward about my mental health. Thank you for all of your help!
Written on Mar 26, 2024 after therapy with Gillian for 1 year and 2 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, eating disorders, self esteem, career difficulties, coping with life changes, coaching, and adhd
Gillian has helped me help myself tremendously! Helped me change my way of thinking about certain concerns. Still struggling and still enjoy looking forward to every meeting with her.
Written on Jan 24, 2024 after therapy with Gillian for 5 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, family conflicts, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, anger management, coping with life changes, compassion fatigue, and adhd
Gillian is an excellent therapist who supports her advice with research. She is very knowledgeable and willing to listen to your problems. She is very respectful and approachable.
Written on Jan 13, 2024 after therapy with Gillian for 1 month on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, intimacy-related issues, and coping with life changes