- Anxiety and depression
- Family of origin issues
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
About Gillian
Gillian Van Dien is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Wisconsin with 17 years of experience. She works with adults on concerns such as anxiety, depression, relationship problems, family of origin issues, grief, and parenting stress. Gillian also supports people coping with eating and intimacy-related issues, career changes, and compassion fatigue.
Gillian uses practical, evidence-informed approaches to help people notice patterns that come from the family they grew up in. Sessions focus on clearer thinking, steadier emotion regulation, and improving everyday communication. She blends skills-based strategies with conversations about how early relationships still shape current choices and reactions.
In practice she draws on methods including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Attachment-Based approaches. Those methods can help when people feel stuck in old roles, struggle with boundaries, or repeat relationship dynamics that cause pain. Gillian also uses emotionally-focused and client-centered ways of working to address closeness and trust issues.
Her work tends to be collaborative and straightforward. Expect a mix of talking, practical exercises, and steps to try between sessions. The focus is on usable skills that can reduce anxiety, shift unhelpful habits, and help people repair or redefine relationships influenced by their upbringing.
Gillian welcomes conversations about complicated pasts and how they affect the present. She asks questions, offers reflections, and helps set small, realistic goals that fit a person's life and responsibilities.
Therapeutic approaches and how online sessions work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on noticing thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them. It helps people clarify personal values and take committed action toward those values, which can be useful for anxiety, depression, and life transitions.Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships influence current patterns. It can help people understand clinginess, avoidance, trust issues, and the way family roles shape responses in adult relationships.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their needs, goals, and preferences. That might mean trying a skills-based CBT strategy for a while, then using attachment-focused conversations to deepen relational changes.
Confirm current session formats before booking because the profile does not list them. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. It also makes it possible to use video or phone options depending on what suits a person's schedule and comfort. Licensed professionals help clients find a practical rhythm for sessions that fits everyday life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
17+ years
Listed in
Wisconsin
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, family of origin issues, grief, parenting concerns, and related topics listed in her specialties.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is collaborative and practical. Sessions mix conversation with exercises and actionable steps to try between meetings.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 17 years of experience as a practicing counselor in Wisconsin.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensed in Wisconsin and practices in that state.
Does she work in other languages or with international clients?
Sessions are offered in English. She is not accepting international clients at this time.
What session formats are offered?
Please confirm current session options before booking, as the original profile does not specify formats.
How are sessions paid for and what does cost look like?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Begin by selecting the See online therapy options button, completing the short matching questionnaire, and scheduling a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Looking for someone else? Find them by surname.