Darlene Wilken, LPC, LPC-MHSP

Darlene Wilken is a licensed clinician with eight years of experience supporting adults who face addiction and co-occurring mental health concerns. She holds the LPC credential - Licensed Professional Counselor - and an LPC-MHSP endorsement, indicating specialized licensure to provide mental health services. Darlene began her clinical work in inpatient settings with adults over 18 and currently provides care in a methadone clinic, where she supports people struggling with opiate addiction alongside diagnosed mental health conditions.

Her clinical caseload has included a wide range of diagnoses and life challenges, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, anxiety, depression, ADHD, relationship and parenting difficulties, and histories of physical trauma or emotional abuse. She also has focused experience addressing substance use, including drug and alcohol addiction. Darlene blends several evidence-informed methods to meet each person where they are, tailoring treatment plans to the individual needs and goals of each client.

Known for a warm and interactive style, Darlene emphasizes respect, sensitivity, and compassion in her work. Her approach draws on mindfulness, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, client-centered principles, and solution-focused techniques to create practical, personalized paths forward. She looks forward to supporting new clients in Tennessee and beyond.

Approaches That Guide Online Support

Client-centered therapy emphasizes the client’s perspective, offering a supportive space where the therapist follows the client’s lead to build insight and self-directed change - this approach can be especially helpful for relationship concerns, self-esteem work, and navigating grief.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, offering practical tools for managing anxiety, depression, and stress. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) teaches emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills, which can benefit clients coping with intense emotions, trauma responses, or difficulties in relationships.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Darlene will work with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adapting strategies over time as progress is made.

Online sessions offer flexibility and easier access to ongoing care. Clients can connect by video call, speak by phone, engage through live chat, or use text-based messaging, making it possible to receive therapeutic support around work schedules, family responsibilities, or geographic constraints. These options allow licensed professionals to deliver consistent, goal-oriented care that fits into everyday life.