Dr. Kristen Pavela

Dr. Kristen Pavela is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Wisconsin. She holds a doctorate in social work and brings ten years of hands-on clinical experience. Her background includes work as a clinical social worker, psychocounselor, and substance abuse counselor. She meets people who are dealing with tough problems and helps them move forward.

Her practice covers a wide range of concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma and abuse, anger, relationship and family issues, grief, and problems with intimacy. She also supports people facing parenting stress, caregiver strain, ADHD, and challenges like impulsivity, guilt, or isolation. Dr. Pavela addresses both the immediate problem and the patterns that keep it going.

Her style is warm and interactive. She focuses on respect, sensitivity, and compassion, and avoids stigmatizing labels. Sessions are collaborative and geared to the client’s needs rather than a fixed script.

Dr. Pavela draws on several approaches to shape treatment. She uses cognitive behavioral strategies to identify unhelpful thinking and behaviors, motivational interviewing to strengthen readiness for change, psychodynamic ideas to look at underlying patterns, and client-centered methods to keep the conversation focused on what matters to each person.

She tailors each plan to fit a person’s life and goals. If someone is ready to make a change, she aims to provide steady support and practical steps toward feeling better.

How these approaches guide online care

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and following the person’s lead. The therapist creates space for people to say what matters most and helps shape goals from there. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions and uses practical exercises to change unhelpful patterns; it is often useful for anxiety, depression, and anger. Motivational Interviewing is a brief, collaborative way to strengthen someone’s own reasons for change and can be helpful with addictions or when motivation is mixed.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, history, and preferences and then recommend ways of working together. That decision is collaborative and can change as needs evolve.

Confirm the current session options before booking since formats are not listed here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It also lets people try different ways of working and see which tools and rhythm fit their day-to-day needs.