Charlene Thiede , LMSW, LISW

Charlene Thiede is a licensed social worker practicing in Michigan and Iowa who brings decades of experience to clients of all ages. She works from a person-centered, strengths-based perspective that starts with where each person is in the present and builds on existing resources to support meaningful change. Trained in a range of therapeutic approaches, she draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, play therapy for children, and Solution-Focused Therapy to tailor interventions to individual needs.

Her professional path began as a school social worker, a role that provided close insight into the challenges children face in educational settings and led to a specialization in supporting children and their families. She later provided behavioral health counseling in a private mental health clinic and in a large family service agency, working with children, adolescents, and adults. Across settings she has focused on helping people explore the problems they face and identify the changes they want to make in their lives.

She holds LMSW and LISW credentials - LMSW denotes a licensed master social worker and LISW denotes a licensed independent social worker - and brings a practical, hopeful approach to sessions. Her stated goal is for people to leave feeling more hopeful and confident about moving forward, a commitment reflected in long-term clinical work with families and individuals. A former colleague once noted that clients who arrived feeling sad often left with a smile, a remark that Charlene finds deeply meaningful.

Integrating Therapeutic Approaches for Online Care

Charlene Thiede uses established therapeutic approaches that translate well to online formats. Client-centered therapy focuses on understanding each person's perspective and building on their strengths - it is helpful for people seeking emotional support, confidence, and clearer direction. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) examines connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and offers practical strategies for managing anxiety, depression, and stress-related patterns. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) combines skills training in emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness and is useful for intense emotions, relationship challenges, and coping with crisis experiences.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Charlene works collaboratively with each person to identify goals and preferences, then adapts techniques from these approaches to match what will be most helpful. This collaborative planning helps ensure therapy aligns with a client's needs and life circumstances.

Online therapy through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging offers flexibility for scheduling, access from different locations, and multiple ways to communicate. These options can make it easier to maintain consistent care, practice new skills between sessions, and receive support in formats that fit daily life while working with a licensed professional.