In La Crosse, WI, individuals seeking support can find a range of outpatient services provided by licensed professionals in the mental health field. These counselors and social workers are dedicated to addressing persistent mental illness and various behavioral concerns.

Some therapy practices in this area aim to create a supportive environment where individuals are encouraged to explore their personal strengths and work towards self-actualization. This process is facilitated through counseling sessions that work to empower clients, helping them develop effective coping strategies and enhance their overall well-being.

Special attention may also be given to serving the BIPOC community, ensuring that sessions are conducted with an understanding of the unique challenges faced by these individuals. By providing culturally sensitive care, therapists in La Crosse strive to make mental health care available and relevant to everyone in the community.

Please see the therapist profiles below for more information on the different therapists available online.

Psychologist Kathryn Heinzen providing different types of therapy in La Crosse

Kathryn Heinzen

Clinician
License Type(s): LPC
Mental Wellness Specialties: Stress, AnxietyGriefSelf esteemDepression
15 years offering treatment

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, licensed in the states of Kansas and Wisconsin. I have been a practicing licensed therapist for 12 years. I have worked with a wide range of populations from children and adolescents to adults and geriatrics. I have worked with clients who have struggled with depression, anxiety, relationship issues, stress management, career challenges, and significant life changes. I am also a certified personal trainer and I have worked with clients struggling with weight loss and body image issues. I have experience working in several different settings including group homes, an inpatient psychiatric hospital, and an intensive outpatient hospital setting. What this means, is that I have worked with people at various points in their mental health journey. My counseling style is warm, compassionate, and supportive, but I will also challenge you to grow. I will meet you where are you at, actively listen to you, and help you set and achieve the goals that are important to you. I utilize several approaches in my practice, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, mindfulness, journaling, and positive psychology. It can be hard to reach out and seek help and I commend you for taking the first steps to make positive changes in your life. If you are ready to commit, I am ready to support and empower you to be successful. I look forward to working with you!

Psychologist Stefanie Johnson providing different types of therapy in La Crosse

Stefanie Johnson

Clinician
License Type(s): LPC
Mental Wellness Specialties: Stress, AnxietyTrauma and abuseSelf esteemDepressionCoping with life changes
14 years offering treatment

Welcome, and thank you for being here to learn more about me to see if we could be a good fit to work together! My name is Stefanie and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Wisconsin. I have over 10 years of experience working in the mental health field and have worked in a variety of settings, including inpatient hospital, Intensive Outpatient programs, in-home therapy, case management programs and outpatient therapy. All that means is that I have a wide variety of experience that has allowed me to see and work with a wide range and severity of clinical issues. Much of my experience is working with depression, anxiety, complex trauma, PTSD and severe and persistent mental illness, like schizophrenia. Throughout the course of working with those particular mental health issues, I also have worked with family and relationship conflicts and anger issues. My desire to pursue a career in the mental health field began in my senior year of high school and I stayed with that path all throughout my undergraduate and graduate education. I earned my Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (go Blugolds!) and my Master's degree in Educational Psychology - Community Counseling from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. After I completed my undergraduate degree, I worked for about one year for the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare as a case manager for families involved in the foster care system. I learned quickly in that job while making referrals for the families on my caseload for mental health services that I wanted to be the person receiving those referrals. I have experienced first-hand mental health issues in my own family and understand how challenging it can be coping with these issues for the person struggling and their loved ones. I also have seen how much life can improve for people when they find the support they need and can begin to take better care of themselves. Despite so much effort to eliminate it, the stigma around mental health remains and I believe that being able to access support online can reach so many more people who want to take steps toward taking better care of themselves. I recently took a few years away from outpatient therapy to be at home with my young, growing family and I think that utilizing online counseling is the perfect fit right now for me and my family. I use a holistic, person-centered, eclectic approach to my work, meaning I will meet you where you are at and tailor my approach to your needs. My treatment approach is grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and has been strongly influenced by Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). I also utilize mindfulness techniques, values based therapy and solution focused therapy. I am also trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprogramming) for working with people who have experienced trauma. If you are looking for someone to give advice or tell you what to do, I am not your person. I believe in facilitating a conversation that leads you to discovering how you can best cope with, manage and overcome the struggles you have. That sounds like a little “tough love” and I do have that side of me, but I also come from a place of empathy and warmth that helps to foster that conversation to be supportive and effective. I believe that mental health is as important as physical health, and just like it can take time to see positive changes in our physical health and wellness, I believe that mental health requires the same consistency and patience to see positive changes. I look forward to working with you and thank you again for taking the time to get to know me a little better.

Psychologist AmySue Hartman providing different types of therapy in La Crosse

AmySue Hartman

Clinician
License Type(s): MA,LPC
Mental Wellness Specialties: Stress, AnxietyTrauma and abuseBipolar disorderDepressionCoping with life changes
28 years offering treatment

Hello! My name is AmySue Hartman and I am a licensed professional counselor in the state of WI, MN, and FL. I have worked in various capacities within human services for the past 35 years (residential, vocational, respite care, after-hours crisis and community mental health outpatient). It's not easy taking steps to help yourself. My aim is to help you feel and believe there is hope for a better tomorrow in a non-judgmental platform. I have worked with person's who experience symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD, low self-esteem, OCD, personality disorders, addiction, trauma, bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia, ADHD and anger issues. My professional work has always been primarily with adults and families. My approach is to target your strengths, exploring what you perceive as your barriers and helping guide you toward resolution. Therapy modalities used will be: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Strengths Based Therapy, Recovery Oriented Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Motivational Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Creating positive change in your life can be accomplished through completing worksheets, practicing techniques and interventions offered to you in our sessions. Together we will move at your pace and apply strategies to help you to feel empowered to make decisions more safely and confidently. I truly look forward to meeting with you soon!

Psychologist Petrovnia McIntosh providing different types of therapy in La Crosse

Petrovnia McIntosh

Clinician
License Type(s): LCSW,CCTS-I
Mental Wellness Specialties: Stress, AnxietyAddictionsLGBTTrauma and abuseDepression
9 years offering treatment

Hello! My name is Petrovnia McIntosh. I am a a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in the state of Wisconsin and a Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist for Individuals (CCTS-I). I received my Masters in Social Work (MSW) at the University of Wisconsin- Madison- School of Social Work. I specialize in working with adults who have had long-term trauma in childhood. In my practice, I believe that all behaviors are fulfilling a purpose. My approach is based on psychodynamic theory, which means I look for patterns of thoughts and behaviors that have been influenced by the things we learned in childhood. Sometimes the behaviors result in consequences that may be negative or hurtful. During our sessions, I will help you explore those behaviors that you developed in order to adapted and survive the environment you grew up in. I strongly believe that this process needs to be non-judgmental. These behaviors, especially those we see as negative, played an important role of getting through difficult times. We will process what need the behavior was filling. Then we can begin to explore alternative behaviors to try and create a plan of action to try new behaviors. We will then process how those new actions helped or hinder you on your journey. In my practice, I focus on populations with multiple intersectionality- especially People of Color (POC), people in the LGBT*Q community (including those who are planning on gender affirming transitioning and/or surgery) and those who are diagnosed with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). My focus includes learning about the different forms of oppression, how systemic oppression impacts your life, internalized oppression and historical /generational trauma. All these come into play in your present day life whether we are aware of it or not. During therapy we will explore this and how it impacts you today. I look forward to working with you and helping you reach your goals!

Psychologist Colleen Prendergast providing different types of therapy in La Crosse

Colleen Prendergast

Clinician
License Type(s): MA, LPC
Mental Wellness Specialties: Stress, AnxietyGriefCoping with life changesCoaching
18 years offering treatment

I am a licensed professional counselor currently living in Wisconsin with over 15 years of experience working as a mental health counselor. l help clients who are struggling with emotional, psychological, and behavioral issues from young adult and to seniors. The people I help are challenged by anxiety, depression, ADHD, troubled relationships, separation, and divorce, family conflict, grief and loss, trauma, stress management and social isolation. My clients have described me as energetic, genuine, creative, empathetic and present. There is never a one-size-fits-all treatment strategy. Each person deserves individualized therapy that is tailored to their specific needs. I have an integrative and eclectic approach, which often uses: Person Centered, Positive Strength Based, Cognitive Behavioral, Family Systems, Emotionally Focused, Mindfulness and Creative Therapy. I also have been trained in Grief Counseling, Expressive Therapy, MBSR, and Therapy-based yoga interventions. I would like to first work on a therapeutic relationship built on trust, positive regard and acceptance. I would like you to feel comfortable and know that what we discuss is between us and there is no judgment by me. I will offer you a safe environment to open up and discuss your concerns, and work together towards establishing the right skills that will alleviate your distress or worries and help create a happier and healthier you. I am holistically driven, and believe in a body, mind, spirit approach to helping you be your best self. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. We live in a culture that is built on individual determinism which can make it hard to ask for help. It takes courage to reach out and get support. You are here and that is a good first step. If you are ready to take this further I am here to support and empower you. I look forward to working with you!

Psychologist Cassandra Abel providing different types of therapy in La Crosse

Cassandra Abel

Clinician
License Type(s): LCSW, CSAC
Mental Wellness Specialties: Relationship issuesTrauma and abuseGriefCoping with life changesCompassion fatigue
12 years offering treatment

I enjoy working with people to overcome challenges, live more intentional lives and achieve their goals. I am especially well versed in helping people to work through women's issues, relationship problems, grief, stress and trauma. My ideal client is open to new ideas, and views health through a multifaceted lense, exploring the interconnection between physical, mental and spiritual health (understanding that spirituality may or may not include organized religion). I am a therapist, yoga teacher and zumba instructor. My life is all about sharing health with people. I practice what I preach. I have studied mindfulness for many years in a variety of settings and pride myself on my ability to remain nonjudgmental. It is only when we are able to remain neutral that we can find clarity and solutions. I would welcome the opportunity to walk along side you in your journey of personal growth. I commend you for having the wisdom to recognize that you are ready for change and the courage to reach out and get started.

Psychologist Amy Welsch providing different types of therapy in La Crosse

Amy Welsch

Clinician
License Type(s): LPC
Mental Wellness Specialties: Stress, AnxietyGriefSelf esteemDepressionCoping with life changes
6 years offering treatment

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology. I value therapy as being a collaborative process and strive to create a warm, welcoming and non-judgmental environment for my clients. I use a holistic approach and aim to be culturally sensitive, catering to each individuals’ unique worldview. Through therapy, my goal is to help clients feel empowered and validated so they can increase self-efficacy, decrease problematic symptoms, gain insight and self-awareness and learn how to heal in order to have a more positive life experience. I use a strengths- based, person centered approach. I am interested in helping people who struggle with anxiety, grief, depression, self-esteem issues, emotional disturbances (including anger management concerns), and/or are trying to cope with situational life stressors. I use a blend of compassion-focused therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy as well as a solution focused model where appropriate. I also have years of experience working with adults with severe and persistent mental health disorders.

Psychologist Garrison Draves providing different types of therapy in La Crosse

Garrison Draves

Clinician
Mental Wellness Specialties: Stress, AnxietyAddictionsRelationship issuesFamily conflictsDepression
7 years offering treatment

I am licensed in Wisconsin with 6 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with addictions, relationship issues, & family conflicts. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

Psychologist Christina Williams providing different types of therapy in La Crosse

Christina Williams

Clinician
Mental Wellness Specialties: Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseSelf esteemDepression
5 years offering treatment

I am licensed in Wisconsin with 5 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, motivation, self esteem, and confidence. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

Psychologist Darlene Violas providing different types of therapy in La Crosse

Darlene Violas

Clinician
Mental Wellness Specialties: Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsDepressionADHD
14 years offering treatment

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 14 years of experience in the clinical field. With a deep commitment to providing evidence-based care, I utilize a range of therapeutic approaches tailored to meet each client's unique needs. Care is centered around creating a warm, compassionate, and non-judgmental space where clients can feel safe to explore their thoughts and emotions. Through collaborative goal-setting and a focus on the client’s strengths, I work to empower individuals to overcome obstacles, build resilience, and achieve lasting change. I am dedicated to helping clients navigate life's challenges with support and understanding.

Find a therapist serving clients in Wisconsin

Types of therapists available to clients in La Crosse

Understanding the type of therapy you'd like to search for is crucial before finding a therapist or psychologist. Be sure to narrow your search for therapists in La Crosse that can offer psychodynamic therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), talk therapy, group therapy, marriage and family therapy for individuals or couples, or couples therapy depending on your needs.

Licensed therapists & mental health professionals available through BetterHelp's online platform

Mental health therapists in La Crosse available through BetterHelp are accredited to help individuals and couples. La Crosse therapists' credentials can include licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), and clinician or doctor of psychology (PsyD). Regardless of their licensure, La Crosse therapists are trained in any type of therapy in the La Crosse region and in the state of Wisconsin.

How a therapist can help you destress, manage your emotions, and guide you towards the life you want 

Therapists in La Crosse can help clients in improving healthy relationships, communication skills, working through life transitions, couples challenges, managing a mood disorder, improving coping skills, self help tips, offer life coaching, family life, or change in negative thinking patterns. A therapist in La Crosse may also provide a safe place and validation for clients experiencing emotional pain, or that simply want a psychological assessment. 

Find the right therapist for your needs
Match with a qualified therapist