Therapist profile
Dr. Kristen Pavela, LCSW
Wisconsin
LCSW - Anger and Addiction-focused care
Continue with KristenKey details
- CredentialsLCSW
- LicenseLCSW, Wisconsin / 9369-123; LCSW, Illinois / 149020413
- NPI1861926008
- Experience10 years
- LanguagesEnglish
- LocationWisconsin
About
- Anger management
- Substance issues
- CBT and psychodynamic
About Kristen
Dr. Kristen Pavela is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Wisconsin with ten years of clinical experience. She also holds a doctorate in social work. She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, trauma and abuse, anger, relationship strain, parenting concerns, and related issues.
Her background includes work as a clinical social worker and substance abuse counselor. She has supported people dealing with domestic violence, physical trauma, emotional abuse, and problems connected to coping, impulsivity, and substance use. She also addresses issues such as grief, intimacy concerns, self-esteem, and career stress.
In sessions she uses a mix of approaches including client-centered methods, cognitive behavioral techniques, motivational interviewing, and psychodynamic ideas. That means conversations focus on the person's experience, patterns of thought and behavior, motivation for change, and past influences that shape present problems. Sessions are practical and conversational rather than overly technical.
People often come for help with anger that shows up at work, in relationships, or around parenting. She pays attention to communication problems, control issues, and codependency that can fuel frustration. Work on anger typically includes identifying triggers, testing new responses, and building clearer communication skills.
Dr. Pavela asks clients to take part in setting goals and testing what works. She uses observable strategies alongside exploration of background and meaning. To begin, prospective clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session through the online options provided.
How sessions work
How her approaches translate to online work
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on the client's experience and values. Sessions prioritize listening, reflecting, and helping the client name what matters most. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and introduces practical experiments and homework to test new ways of responding. Motivational Interviewing helps people resolve mixed feelings about change by exploring values and building readiness step by step.Deciding which approach fits best is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with the client to try methods that match the client's goals and preferences, and adjust based on what helps. That collaborative process often combines talking about immediate problems, testing small behavioral changes, and reviewing what shifts are sustainable.
The practical benefits of online work include fitting sessions into a busy week and reducing travel time. Confirm the exact session formats before booking because they are not specified here. Online options can make it easier to have shorter check-ins between in-depth sessions or to schedule meetings around work or caregiving routines. Licensed professionals can use these formats to keep progress moving without requiring a commute.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Listed in
Wisconsin, Illinois
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, trauma and abuse, anger, relationship and parenting concerns, grief, eating and sleeping issues, and related challenges.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style blends client-centered conversations with cognitive behavioral techniques, motivational interviewing, and psychodynamic ideas to focus on present behavior and past patterns.
How long has she been practicing clinically?
She has ten years of experience as a clinical social worker and substance abuse counselor and holds a doctorate in social work.
Where is she licensed and based?
She is an LCSW licensed in Illinois and Wisconsin and practices out of Wisconsin.
Does she offer sessions in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and she does not accept international clients.
What session formats are offered?
Please confirm current session options before booking, since specific formats are not listed here.
How are sessions paid for and what do they cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is unsafe, use the crisis numbers.