Darlene Wilken, LPC, LPC-MHSP

Darlene Wilken is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with eight years of clinical experience. She works with adults on addiction and mental health concerns and draws on a range of practical methods. Her manner is warm and interactive, and she aims to treat people with respect and compassion.

She has worked in inpatient settings and in a methadone clinic, gaining hands-on experience with drug and alcohol addiction and co-occurring mental health issues. That background means she is familiar with challenges like bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, and ADHD, as well as trauma and emotional abuse.

In sessions she mixes straightforward tools and coping strategies. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and client-centered techniques all inform her work. Darlene helps people break down problems into manageable steps and practice new skills between meetings.

People often come for help with stress, grief, self-esteem, relationship and intimacy concerns, parenting strains, or career-related stress. She also supports those navigating major life changes or anger management. The focus is on what fits each person's life and goals.

Her approach is collaborative. Darlene works with clients to build a plan that meets immediate needs and supports longer-term change. She adapts methods so sessions feel practical, focused, and doable for everyday life.

Evidence-informed approaches for online care

Online sessions draw on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy along with client-centered principles. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors to reduce anxiety, depression, and stress. DBT offers concrete skills for managing strong emotions, improving relationships, and reducing impulsive or self-destructive behaviors. Client-centered work emphasizes listening, respect, and tailoring the sessions to each person's priorities.

Choosing the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work collaboratively to decide which methods fit a person's goals and preferences. That might mean starting with skill-building from CBT, adding DBT strategies for emotion regulation, or using motivational interviewing to address substance use - then adjusting as needs change.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video sessions allow face-to-face interaction and visual cues. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or for quick check-ins. Live chat and text work well for brief supports, ongoing coaching, and situations where writing helps process thoughts. Together these options offer flexibility to fit schedules and daily life.