Dean Altenhofen, LPC

Dean Altenhofen is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Louisiana with 20 years of experience. He uses cognitive behavioral therapy as a core approach to help people sort through relationship struggles, depression, trauma, and LGBTQ concerns. Dean writes and talks plainly so people can understand next steps and feel less overwhelmed.

He focuses on practical change. Sessions look at patterns of thought and behavior and test small shifts that can make daily life easier. He also draws on mindfulness to help clients notice moments of stress and respond more calmly.

Dean works with a wide range of concerns including coping with life changes, abandonment, communication problems, and issues around intimacy such as infidelity and commitment worries. He also offers support for people dealing with chronic pain, addiction, guilt, and family of origin problems.

His style is collaborative and goal oriented. People set clear targets, try manageable experiments between sessions, and track what helps. Solution-Focused Therapy informs brief, outcome-minded steps when the goal is clearer functioning in a few focused areas.

Sessions are offered in English and can take place by video, phone, live chat, or text messaging. Dean uses straightforward language and practical strategies to help people move forward from painful experiences and regain more control over everyday life.

How CBT, Mindfulness, and Solution-Focused Work Online

Dean commonly uses cognitive behavioral techniques to identify unhelpful thoughts and test small behavior changes that reduce distress. CBT is practical and problem-focused, which translates well to online conversations and short homework tasks.

He also integrates mindfulness approaches that teach simple attention and breathing skills. These help people notice stress and choose calmer responses during tense moments rather than reacting automatically.

Solution-Focused Therapy appears when clear, short-term goals are the priority. In that work the focus is on what will look different soon and on building tiny, achievable steps toward that change.

Finding the right mix of these approaches is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their needs, goals, and preferences and adjust them over time based on what helps.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video sessions allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues, phone calls can be easier when bandwidth is limited, and chat or text are good for brief check-ins or when written reflection helps. These options make scheduling more flexible and let people keep momentum between sessions.