Charlene Thiede, LMSW, LISW

Charlene Thiede is a licensed clinical social worker with 37 years of practice experience. She holds an LMSW and a LISW and is based in Iowa. Charlene focuses on meeting people where they are and building on the strengths they already have.

She uses straightforward, person-centered care. Sessions begin with what is happening now and with small, practical steps toward change. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and motivational approaches are among the methods she draws on to help people notice unhelpful patterns and try new behaviors.

Charlene began her career as a school social worker. That time gave her direct experience with children's needs in educational settings and shaped her approach to family and parenting concerns. She later worked in private and agency settings with children, adolescents, and adults, offering behavioral health counseling across age groups.

In a typical visit she helps people name the problem, set a clear goal, and practice techniques that can be used between sessions. She aims for clients to leave each meeting feeling a bit more hopeful and better able to take the next step. Her style is practical, warm, and focused on achievable change.

Parents often find her calm manner reassuring when stress, grief, or relationship tension feels overwhelming. Charlene pays attention to strengths, coping skills, and what is realistic for each person as they work toward steady improvements.

Practical therapy approaches for online care

Charlene often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people spot thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going and then try small experiments to change them. She also uses Client-Centered Therapy to focus on a person’s strengths and priorities, offering listening and validation while people decide their own goals. Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills are used when emotional regulation, distress tolerance, or relationship patterns are a concern and can teach concrete tools for handling strong feelings.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about their goals, try different techniques, and adjust the plan as needed so the work fits the person’s life and preferences.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy more flexible. Video lets people work face to face when convenient, phone can be a shorter check-in with lower bandwidth needs, and text or chat can help keep momentum between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy around school, work, caregiving, and other commitments while keeping the focus on practical change.