Dr. Kristen Pavela, LCSW

Dr. Kristen Pavela is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a clinical substance abuse counselor licensed in Wisconsin who brings a decade of clinical experience to her work. She also holds a doctorate in social work, reflecting advanced training in assessment and intervention for complex mental health and substance use concerns. Over the course of her career she has supported people facing depression, anxiety, relationship challenges, parenting struggles, anger management needs, addictions, and a range of trauma and abuse experiences.

Her practice includes work with individuals affected by domestic violence - both victims and predators - and with those who have experienced physical trauma or emotional abuse. She employs a warm, interactive counseling style that emphasizes respect, sensitivity, and compassion while avoiding stigmatizing labels. Her approach blends cognitive-behavioral techniques, motivational interviewing, psychodynamic perspectives, person-centered principles, and strengths-based work to create individualized treatment plans.

Dr. Pavela adapts sessions to each person’s specific circumstances, tailoring dialogue and interventions to meet unique needs and goals. She frames therapeutic change as a collaborative process and supports clients in taking the initial steps toward greater well-being. When clients are ready to pursue change, she offers guidance, encouragement, and practical strategies to help them move forward.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Dr. Kristen Pavela uses evidence-informed methods to help clients identify goals, change unhelpful patterns, and build coping skills. Client-centered therapy focuses on the person’s values and experiences, offering empathy and support while helping clients explore what matters most and develop their own solutions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) targets the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors; it provides practical strategies for managing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress by teaching skills like thought reframing and behavioral experiments. Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative, nonjudgmental way to boost motivation for change, particularly useful for addressing addictions and ambivalence about behavioral goals.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapy process, and Dr. Pavela works collaboratively with each client to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She adjusts interventions over time to match progress and changing circumstances. Licensed professionals and therapists can offer a range of techniques, and the choice is guided by what will best support the client.

Online therapy with Dr. Pavela offers flexibility and accessibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit care into busy schedules, maintain continuity during life transitions, and access help from different locations while preserving the collaborative, skill-focused work of in-person treatment.