Wendie Vanderwater is a licensed clinical social worker in Montana with 19 years of experience working with a broad range of people. She adapts treatment methods to match what works best for each individual rather than relying on a single approach.

Her manner is honest and down-to-earth – she approaches clients without judgment and often reminds people that they can be too hard on themselves. Clients decide the level of structure they prefer; Wendie will explore whether they want homework between sessions or prefer to focus solely on the work done in therapy.

She commonly blends approaches such as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and uses mindfulness and journaling to help clients connect with their feelings. Wendie uses DBT on a daily basis and finds it effective in her practice.

Wendie asks questions to discover each person’s needs and treats difficulties as opportunities to identify what strategies work. She also encourages practical steps that can improve well-being – for example, volunteering or joining a book club – because staying active and engaged is an important part of feeling better.