Licensed clinical social worker recordWisconsin
Dr. Kristen Pavela, LCSW
Wisconsin
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Stress and Addictions
Continue with KristenCredentials check
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Licensed in Wisconsin
- LCSW, licence 9369-123
- Licensed in Illinois
- LCSW, licence 149020413
- NPI
- 1861926008
- Experience
- 10 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- Wisconsin
These details come from information Kristen supplied to BetterHelp. A licence can be checked with the social work board of the state that issued it, and an NPI with the national registry.
AAbout
- CBT methods
- Motivational interviewing
- Psychodynamic work
About Kristen
Dr. Kristen Pavela is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed in Wisconsin with ten years of clinical experience. She holds a doctorate in social work and has worked in roles that include clinical social work and substance abuse counseling. She helps people who are dealing with anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma and abuse, relationship strain, parenting stresses, and related concerns.
Her day-to-day work focuses on practical problems and clear goals. Sessions often cover how stress and grief affect sleep, eating, work, and relationships. She also addresses anger, compulsive behaviors, attention and impulsivity concerns, and issues that touch intimacy and trust.
Kristen uses a mix of approaches drawn from client-centered practice, cognitive behavioral methods, motivational interviewing, and psychodynamic ideas. That means conversations balance current problem-solving with attention to patterns that repeat over time. She works with people on communication, commitment doubts, codependency, and coping with life changes.
She has experience supporting people facing caregiver strain, fatherhood issues, domestic violence-related concerns, and the effects of abandonment or attachment wounds. Substance use and behavior change are frequent topics in her work with clients who want to reduce harm or stop using.
In sessions she aims for straightforward collaboration. People leave with practical steps, clearer thinking about next choices, and tools to manage emotions and impulses. Her practice is based in Wisconsin and she conducts work in English.
BHow sessions work
How her approaches guide online sessions
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and responding to the concerns you bring. The therapist follows the client's lead, clarifies what matters most, and supports problem-solving and decision making for issues like relationship strain, parenting stress, or grief.Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) looks at thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going. It uses practical exercises and small experiments to change unhelpful patterns, which can help with anxiety, depression, sleep, and compulsive behaviors.
Motivational interviewing is a brief, collaborative way to talk about change. It helps people weigh their options and strengthen their own reasons for reducing substance use or changing a behavior.
Choosing an approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals and preferences with each client and adjust methods over time. That means sessions can focus on immediate coping skills at first, or move toward exploring underlying relationship patterns if that feels useful.
If you are considering online care, confirm the session formats available before booking. The therapist can help fit sessions into busy schedules and everyday life, which may make it easier to keep regular appointments, use brief check-ins, or plan longer weekly sessions depending on what you need.
CAreas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Listed in
Wisconsin, Illinois
Languages
English
DQuestions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting challenges, grief, sleep and eating concerns, ADHD, and related problems.
How would she describe her therapeutic style?
Her style mixes client-centered conversations with cognitive behavioral tools, motivational interviewing, and psychodynamic ideas to address current problems and recurring patterns.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has ten years of professional experience working as a clinical social worker and substance abuse counselor, and she holds a doctorate in social work.
Where is she licensed to practice?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with licensure in Illinois and Wisconsin listed as IL LCSW and WI LCSW and practices from Wisconsin.
Are sessions offered in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How is cost handled?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Begin by selecting the See online therapy options button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling your first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, call 911, or call or text 988. More crisis numbers