Holly Gardenier

Holly Gardenier is a licensed professional counselor with 35 years of experience who helps people facing pain, confusion, or major life changes. She supports those coping with anxiety, depression, grief, eating and food-related issues, addictions, and relationship or intimacy-related concerns. Her style is down-to-earth and focused on practical steps people can use between sessions.

Holly draws on a mix of evidence-informed approaches to tailor care to each person. She uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people notice thoughts without being ruled by them. She blends client-centered listening with skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy when emotional regulation and distress tolerance are needed.

Her background includes decades working with trauma, grief, and addictive behaviors, plus additional experience addressing attachment and family of origin issues. Holly emphasizes building clarity around values and small, doable changes that fit daily life. Meditation and mindfulness practice are often suggested as tools to support this work.

Sessions aim to move beyond symptom relief toward clearer decision making and increased life meaning. Conversations focus on identifying patterns, practicing new skills, and setting achievable goals. The therapist frames work as a collaborative process where the client’s own insights guide progress.

Holly practices in Wisconsin and communicates in English. She accepts international clients and uses a subscription model that can be canceled at any time. Prospective clients choose the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

How therapeutic approaches shape online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice painful thoughts and choose actions that match their values. It focuses on building a clearer sense of what matters and taking small steps toward those goals. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening and collaboration, giving people space to tell their story while the therapist reflects and supports their own insights. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers concrete skills for managing intense emotions, tolerating distress, and improving relationships.

Finding the right approach is usually a team process. Holly will work with clients to figure out which methods fit their needs, goals, and personal preferences. She often combines listening with skill practice and values work so the plan matches what each person wants to achieve.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm the session formats available before booking since formats are not listed here. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. They also support regular practice of skills between meetings, which can help with anxiety, eating and food-related issues, addiction recovery, and grief work.