- ACT and CBT techniques
- DBT skills strategies
- Motivational interviewing
About Tonya
Tonya Carpenter is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Montana with seven years of professional experience. She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, depression, anger, relationship and family concerns, parenting challenges, and related issues. Tonya describes a direct, up-front style and prefers asking clear questions rather than making assumptions.
She spent time in hospital clinical settings and ran a private practice before joining Aware. Tonya also worked in schools as a behavior intervention specialist for grades 6-12 and has experience with adults with disabilities. Her Master of Social Work degree is from the University of Southern California with an emphasis in Military and Veterans Affairs, and she notes personal experience as a veteran.
Tonya uses straightforward, client-centered methods that highlight clients' strengths and practical solutions. She draws on techniques from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy to address symptoms and daily problems. Motivational interviewing and trauma-informed practices also appear in her work.
She is comfortable helping people with co-occurring disorders, substance use, PTSD, Bipolar, child abuse and neglect, communication and anger-related difficulties, and other life stressors. Tonya emphasizes that people are not broken but are operating with the tools they have.
Her approach focuses on clear communication, building skills, and creating better day-to-day functioning. Readers who want to start are asked to use the site's matching and scheduling process to arrange a first session and confirm current session options.
Therapeutic approaches used in online sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them and then choose actions that match their values. It can be useful for anger that comes with stress, depression, or life changes.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing them with straightforward behavioral experiments. CBT is practical for anxiety, low mood, and patterns that fuel frustration and resentment.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers concrete skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. Those skills can help reduce impulsive reactions and improve communication when anger builds.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will collaborate with each person to pick techniques that match their needs, goals, and preferences, and will adjust methods based on how the client responds.
Confirm session formats before booking to know which options are offered. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, avoid travel time, and use shorter check-ins when needed. Discuss scheduling and session length during the matching and scheduling process so sessions can fit into everyday life.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
7+ years
Listed in
Montana
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she address?
She helps adults with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, depression, anger, relationship and family concerns, parenting, grief, and related issues.
What is her therapeutic style?
She uses a direct, up-front approach and a client-centered, strengths-based style that focuses on practical solutions and skill building.
How much experience does she have?
She has seven years of professional experience across hospital settings, private practice, and schools.
What are her credentials and location?
She is an LCSW licensed in Montana and holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California.
Which languages are available for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English only.
Does she accept clients outside the United States?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session through the provided scheduling flow.