Darlene Wilken

Darlene Wilken is a licensed professional counselor who brings eight years of clinical experience in mental health and addiction care. She holds LPC and LPC-MHSP credentials and has worked extensively with adults facing substance use and co-occurring mental health concerns. Her background includes inpatient treatment and work in a methadone clinic supporting people with opiate addiction and related diagnoses.

She uses a warm, interactive style and aims to treat each person with respect and compassion. Sessions focus on practical steps people can take between meetings. She listens first, then helps build a plan that fits each person's situation and goals.

Her work covers a wide range of concerns, including addiction, grief, stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, self-esteem, and anger. She also supports people dealing with trauma, emotional abuse, relationship and intimacy-related issues, parenting stress, career challenges, and LGBT-related concerns.

Darlene draws on Client-Centered Therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), mindfulness therapy, and motivational interviewing. These methods are blended to match what a person needs, combining skill teaching, gentle challenge, and practical problem solving.

People who prefer an approachable, goal-oriented clinician often find this style useful. She adapts plans to fit each person’s pace and priorities. To begin, clients follow the site’s matching process and schedule based on availability.

How therapeutic approaches shape online sessions

Client-Centered Therapy centers the person’s experience and priorities, with the therapist listening closely and responding to what matters most to the client. This approach helps people feel heard and helps guide the direction of work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and building practical skills to change them; it is often used for anxiety, depression, and anger. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, teaches specific skills for managing intense emotions, improving distress tolerance, and handling relationship challenges.

Choosing the right approach is a shared process. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, history, and preferences, and together they will try methods that seem likely to help. Plans are adjusted over time based on what is working and what is not.

Confirm current session options before booking to know which formats are supported. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life - for example, it can reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins between commitments, or let people join without needing a commute. These practical benefits often help people maintain consistency while working on concerns like addiction, anger, or stress.