Colleen Prendergast, LPC

Colleen Prendergast is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in Wisconsin with 18 years of experience helping people across the life span, from young adults through seniors. She works with individuals facing anxiety, depression, ADHD, relationship challenges including separation and divorce, family conflict, grief and loss, trauma, stress, and social isolation. Her practice also addresses addictions, anger, self-esteem, career concerns, bipolar disorder, compassion fatigue, and caregiver stress among other complex issues.

Colleen uses an integrative, eclectic approach that is tailored to each person rather than applying a one-size-fits-all plan. She draws on person-centered methods, cognitive behavioral techniques, mindfulness practices, family systems work, emotionally focused strategies, and creative therapies. She has received training in grief counseling, expressive therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), and therapy-based yoga interventions. Colleen emphasizes a holistic, body-mind-spirit perspective to support healing and growth.

She seeks to build a therapeutic relationship grounded in trust, positive regard, and acceptance, and encourages clients to explore their concerns without judgment. Her clients have described her as energetic, genuine, creative, empathetic, and present. Colleen offers practical skills and collaborative guidance to help clients alleviate distress, clarify goals, and develop a healthier, more fulfilling life.

Therapeutic Approaches Adapted for Online Care

Colleen integrates approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy into her online work. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people live according to their values while learning to accept uncomfortable thoughts and feelings - it can be useful for stress, anxiety, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) targets the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors by teaching practical skills to change unhelpful patterns; it is commonly used for anxiety, depression, and behavioral concerns. She also incorporates mindfulness-based techniques to help clients cultivate present-moment awareness and reduce reactivity, which can support emotional regulation and stress management.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Colleen collaborates with each person to identify which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences, and she adjusts treatment over time as progress and priorities evolve.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to access consistent support from licensed professionals and to continue work between appointments through ongoing messaging and check-ins.