At a glance
- Credentials
- LCSW
- License
- LCSW, Wisconsin / 9369-123; LCSW, Illinois / 149020413
- NPI
- 1861926008
- Experience
- 10 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- Wisconsin
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
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- Motivational interviewing informed
- Doctorate in social work
- Wisconsin based clinician
About Kristen
Dr. Kristen Pavela is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Wisconsin with a decade of experience. She holds a doctorate in social work and has spent years supporting people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, and trauma. Her tone is warm and straightforward, and she aims to make the first step feel manageable for worried parents and individuals alike.
She meets people where they are and avoids labels that shame. Sessions focus on clear goals and honest conversation. She blends different approaches so care fits each person’s needs rather than following a single formula.
Her work includes helping people navigate relationship strain, parenting stress, grief, and issues with intimacy or self-esteem. She also supports those coping with substance use, anger, sleep or eating concerns, and major life changes. Attention to attachment, abandonment, and communication problems is part of her practice when relevant.
Therapy sessions use tools from client-centered and cognitive behavioral work, plus motivational interviewing and psychodynamic ideas. That mix lets her help clients build motivation for change, notice patterns, and practice new ways of coping. Treatment plans are shaped together with the person in the room.
Dr. Pavela describes her style as interactive and respectful. She offers a steady, nonjudgmental space to talk through difficult experiences and to work toward realistic, everyday improvements. If someone is ready to try a different path, she assists in taking those first steps.
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Approaches that guide online care
Dr. Pavela commonly draws on motivational interviewing to help people clarify what matters to them and build internal motivation for change. This approach focuses on listening, asking questions that spark thinking, and supporting small, achievable steps toward goals.
She also uses client-centered therapy to create an accepting space where the person leads the conversation and the therapist reflects and supports. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is part of the mix when people want practical skills to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and to try new coping strategies.
Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. She will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t worked before, and then tailor methods to match those needs. This is a collaborative process rather than a one-size-fits-all plan.
If you are considering online sessions, confirm the current session options before booking so you know what formats are offered. Online care can make scheduling easier, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when life is busy. It can also let someone use sessions during a break at work or when being on camera is less comfortable than a phone-style conversation. -
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
LGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCompassion fatigueADHDAdditional focus areas
AbandonmentAttachment issuesCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionFamily problemsFatherhood issuesGuilt and shameImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesMood disordersPanic disorder and panic attacksPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSmoking / vaping cessationSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesYoung adult issuesTherapeutic approaches
Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Motivational InterviewingPsychodynamic TherapyExperience
10+ years
Listed in
Wisconsin, Illinois
Languages
English
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Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma and abuse, anger, relationship and family issues, grief, intimacy concerns, eating and sleeping problems, parenting stress, self-esteem, career challenges, bipolar symptoms, ADHD, and coping with life changes.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is warm, interactive, and nonjudgmental. She uses respectful conversation to set goals and tailor a plan that fits each person's needs.
What background does she bring to sessions?
She has about 10 years of clinical experience and a doctorate in social work. She has worked as a clinical social worker and substance abuse counselor with diverse concerns.
Which credentials and location are listed?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with licensure noted as IL LCSW and WI LCSW and practices in Wisconsin.
Are sessions offered in other languages?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people from other countries work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist arrangements; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.
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Online talk therapy is not emergency or medical care. Stopping or cutting down alcohol or other drugs can be unsafe without medical advice. In immediate danger? Crisis numbers