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Lindsay McClernan

Lindsay McClernan

LCSW

Trauma-informed LCSW focused on practical coping

Continue with Lindsay Review online therapy options and next steps on BetterHelp.
  • Trauma-focused support
  • Skill-based strategies
  • Affirming approach

About Lindsay

Lindsay McClernan is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) practicing in Wisconsin. She uses Trauma-Focused Therapy as a core approach and creates a calm, nonjudgmental space for people to talk about hard things. Her style aims to help clients feel heard and build practical ways to cope with stress and change.

With 11 years of experience, she helps people manage anxiety, depression, grief, and the fallout of trauma and abuse. She also supports those facing relationship strain, parenting stress, addiction, and career worries. Lindsay pays attention to how past attachment experiences shape current feelings and behaviors.

Her work blends client-centered listening with tools from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. That means sessions often mix open conversation with concrete skills practice to change unhelpful thinking and manage strong emotions. She may also integrate trauma-focused techniques when past events are part of the problem.

Lindsay often addresses issues tied to family life such as blended family dynamics, adoption and foster care concerns, caregiver stress, and communication problems. She also supports people dealing with dissociation, codependency, recovery from domestic violence, and substance use challenges.

People who come to her typically want a balance of empathy and clear strategies. She works with each person to set goals and try approaches that fit their needs. To begin, the client completes a short matching questionnaire and schedules sessions based on availability.

How trauma-informed and attachment work translates to online therapy

Trauma-Focused Therapy focuses on helping people process upsetting past events and reduce their hold on daily life. It typically involves careful pacing, grounding techniques, and approaches that target traumatic memories so those memories feel less disruptive.

Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships shape current trust and communication. Work in this model helps people notice patterns, practice different ways of relating, and build more secure connections with others.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful. Together they can try methods and adjust them based on what actually helps in weekly sessions.

The practical benefits of online work include easier scheduling and fitting sessions into busy days. If you need to avoid travel or prefer shorter check-ins, online sessions can be more flexible. Confirm the current session options before booking so you know which formats are offered.

These summaries are based on the profile information listed on BetterHelp. Listing trauma-focused therapy does not mean a therapist holds a specific certification such as TF-CBT, EMDR or CPT.

Areas of expertise

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTRelationship issuesGriefParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesDepressionCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeBlended family issuesCaregiver issues and stressCo-morbidityCodependencyCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDissociationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameImmigration issuesIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

11+ years

Credentials

Wisconsin

Languages

English

Licenses listed

As listed on the therapist's profile. You can check a license with the state licensing board and an NPI in the national registry.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Lindsay commonly help with?

She supports people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and abuse, addictions, and relationship difficulties. She also works with parenting strain, career stress, ADHD, and compassion fatigue.

What is her general therapy style?

The approach is trauma-informed and client-centered, combining listening with practical tools. Sessions mix conversation with skills practice drawn from CBT and DBT when useful.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has 11 years of experience working with adults on a wide range of life challenges and trauma-related concerns.

Where is she licensed and based?

She is a licensed clinical social worker, LCSW, practicing in Wisconsin.

Which languages are sessions offered in?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can people from other countries work with her?

International clients are not currently accepted.

How does pricing work for sessions?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability and uses a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with her?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to therapist availability.

Therapists on BetterHelp do not prescribe medication; a doctor can talk with you about medical options. This directory is not a crisis service. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If you are thinking about suicide, call or text 988.

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