- Trauma-informed care
- Body-based methods
- Work and wellbeing
About Denise
Denise Thelander is a licensed independent social worker (LISW) practicing in Iowa. She focuses on relationship strain, trauma and abuse, depression, and coping with big life changes. Denise also helps people facing attachment and abandonment concerns, communication struggles, caregiver stress, and issues around body image and chronic illness.
She brings three years of clinical experience to each conversation. Her work is trauma-informed and draws on body-based trauma methods to help people reconnect with their bodies and reactions. Sessions aim to make difficult feelings easier to name and manage rather than push them away.
Denise takes a practical approach in session. She helps people notice patterns, try small changes, and practice new ways of responding to stress. She uses clear language and breaks tasks into manageable steps so coping feels doable between meetings.
People come to her for help with grief, anger, isolation, and life transitions like divorce or midlife shifts. She also supports those dealing with chronic pain, caregiver strain, and struggles around control or impulsivity. Denise pays attention to how past relationships affect present choices.
Her methods focus on gentle body awareness, named feelings, and improving communication. She invites people to set goals together and adjusts the pace to fit each person. To begin, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.
How evidence-based techniques work in online therapy
Denise uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques, including body-based trauma work that helps people notice physical responses tied to past harm and learn ways to calm or shift those responses. This approach can help with trauma, anxiety, and intense emotional reactions by bringing attention to sensations and building new, gentler responses.She also applies trauma-informed care more broadly, which means sessions are paced to reduce overwhelm and focus on safety and choice. This helps people process difficult memories or stress without pushing beyond what feels manageable.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, what has or hasn't helped before, and preferences for moving at a faster or slower pace. That collaboration guides which techniques are tried and how they are adapted over time.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm available options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule and reduce travel time. It can also allow for shorter check-ins when a full session is not needed, or make it easier to maintain continuity when life changes. Licensed professionals can tailor techniques so progress happens even when meetings are remote.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
3+ years
Credentials
Iowa
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does Denise address?
She focuses on relationship issues, trauma and abuse, depression, and coping with life changes. Additional areas include attachment, abandonment, body image, caregiver stress, and chronic illness.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is trauma-informed and practical. Sessions emphasize body awareness, naming emotions, and trying small changes that can be practiced between meetings.
What is her professional background?
She holds an LISW credential and has three years of clinical experience working with trauma, grief, depression, and stress-related concerns.
Where is the therapist located and licensed?
She is licensed in Iowa as an LISW and practices from that state.
Can I work with her if I live outside the United States?
International clients are accepted. Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not specify session formats. Please confirm current session options when booking to know which formats are offered.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin therapy with Denise?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a session according to the therapist's availability.