Petrovnia McIntosh , LCSW

Petrovnia McIntosh is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) practicing in Wisconsin with nine years of clinical experience. She holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Social Work and is a Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist for Individuals (CCTS-I), a credential that indicates focused training in treating trauma at the individual level.

McIntosh specializes in supporting adults who carry long-term effects of childhood trauma, approaching therapy from a psychodynamic perspective that seeks to identify repeating patterns of thought and behavior rooted in early experiences. She works from the premise that behaviors often serve a purpose - strategies developed to adapt and survive difficult circumstances - and treats those behaviors with curiosity rather than judgment. In sessions she helps clients name the need a behavior was meeting, explore alternatives, and create practical steps to try new ways of responding while tracking how those changes affect daily life.

Her practice centers on people with multiple intersecting identities, including People of Color and members of the LGBT*Q community, as well as people living with HIV. McIntosh attends to how systemic oppression, internalized bias, and historical or generational trauma influence present-day functioning. She also brings experience working with issues such as attachment and abandonment, dissociation, addiction, relationship and communication challenges, and concerns related to kink and non-monogamous relationships. She welcomes the opportunity to support clients in clarifying goals and building actionable plans toward greater well-being.

Attachment-informed and practical therapy delivered online

Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early relationships shape expectations and patterns in current relationships. It helps clients identify attachment styles, understand how past bonds influence present reactions, and build more secure ways of connecting with others. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is a goal-oriented approach that examines the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors; it offers concrete tools to reduce anxiety, manage mood, and shift unhelpful thinking patterns. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes the therapist’s empathetic presence and collaboration, creating a respectful space where clients set the pace and goals of work together.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Petrovnia works collaboratively with clients to assess needs, goals, and personal preferences and then tailors treatment strategies from these approaches to fit the individual. This collaborative style helps ensure the chosen methods match what a client hopes to achieve.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions by video or phone allow real-time conversation, while live chat and text-based messaging provide shorter or more frequent touchpoints as needed. For clients who use American Sign Language, video sessions can support signing. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives and to access skilled licensed professionals across distances.