- Addictions support
- CBT and DBT skills
- Motivational techniques
About Darlene
Darlene Wilken is a Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC, and a Licensed Professional Counselor-Mental Health Service Provider, LPC-MHSP, with eight years of clinical experience. She practices in Tennessee and has worked extensively with substance use and co-occurring mental health concerns. Her background includes inpatient addiction treatment and current work at a clinic focused on opiate dependence.
She helps people facing addictions and drug and alcohol problems alongside mood and thinking disorders. Common concerns she addresses include anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, grief, trauma and abuse, and anger. She also supports people working through relationship stress, intimacy issues, parenting strain, career pressures, and major life changes.
Her approach blends several methods to match each person's situation. She uses Client-Centered Therapy to create a respectful space where people can speak openly. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) are used to identify unhelpful thoughts and practice new skills for reacting differently. Motivational Interviewing and mindfulness techniques are applied when addressing substance use or when someone wants to build motivation for change.
Sessions tend to be interactive and focused on practical steps. Expect conversations that look at patterns, try simple behavioral experiments, and practice coping skills you can use between visits. She works with adults and people who have been diagnosed with a variety of mental health conditions in clinical treatment settings.
Darlene draws on her experience in inpatient care and clinic-based addiction work when helping clients manage strong emotions like anger, rebuild after trauma, or reduce reliance on substances. If you want straightforward work on mood, behavior, or substance concerns, she aims to collaborate on clear, achievable goals.
How therapeutic approaches translate to online sessions
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting so people can talk through what matters to them; online sessions still center on the client's perspective and personal goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and uses short exercises and homework to change patterns, which adapts well to video or phone sessions. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches concrete emotion regulation and distress tolerance skills that can be practiced between meetings and reviewed during online appointments.Finding the right approach is part of the work. Darlene will discuss options with each person and pick methods based on needs, goals, and what feels practical. This is a collaborative process where techniques can be adjusted as progress and challenges become clearer.
The biography does not specify which online formats are used, so confirm the current session options before booking. Many people find online sessions convenient for fitting therapy into workdays, managing childcare, or reducing travel time. Phone check-ins can be shorter and easier when bandwidth or camera use is an issue, while video sessions allow for a fuller conversational exchange and direct skill coaching. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises, worksheets, and mindfulness practices to the format that best suits a client's routine.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
8+ years
Listed in
Wisconsin, Tennessee
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Darlene address related to anger?
She works with anger alongside other issues such as addictions, trauma, relationship stress, and parenting strain.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is interactive and person-centered, using mindfulness, motivational interviewing, CBT, DBT, and solution-focused techniques.
How much experience does she have?
She has eight years of clinical experience, including inpatient addiction treatment and clinic work with opiate dependence.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is an LPC and an LPC-MHSP practicing in Tennessee with licensure noted as WI LPC and TN LPC-MHSP.
Can I work with her in English or from another country?
Sessions are offered in English, and she accepts international clients.
What session formats are offered?
The original biography does not list specific session formats; confirm current session options before booking.
How does cost work for sessions?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to start working together?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.