Alyssa Whiteaker

Alyssa Whiteaker is a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) based in Minnesota who focuses on helping people navigate anxiety, stress, and life transitions. She draws on six years of practice to support clients working through trauma, grief, and challenges like ADHD and workplace strain. Her approach centers on listening first and helping each person find realistic steps forward.

She aims to make sessions feel approachable and straightforward. That means clear tools for managing difficult emotions, simpler ways to communicate, and practical steps to reduce overwhelm. She pays attention to how isolation and loneliness affect daily life and helps clients rebuild connection in ways that feel doable.

Alyssa blends a few evidence-informed methods to match each situation. She uses cognitive strategies to shift unhelpful thinking and values-based work to clarify what matters most. Motivational techniques are used when clients want help making changes and staying on track.

Her style is warm and non-judgmental, with an emphasis on boundaries, self-compassion, and small habit changes that add up. She often focuses on skills people can try between sessions so progress continues outside the room. Clients can expect straightforward feedback and a plan tailored to their goals.

People who choose her often want a collaborator rather than a prescriptive coach. She works with individuals who are ready to address stress, relationship patterns, or identity concerns and who appreciate a practical, steady approach to therapy.

How her approaches guide online work

Alyssa uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients clarify values and change unhelpful thought patterns. ACT focuses on identifying what matters to you and taking steps toward those values even when emotions are difficult. CBT looks at the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and offers practical tools to reduce anxiety and improve daily functioning.

She sees finding the right approach as a team effort. During early sessions she will listen to your goals and preferences, and then suggest techniques from these approaches that fit your needs. Clients and therapist adjust the plan together as progress and challenges emerge.

Please confirm current session options before booking, as formats are not listed here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life by reducing travel time and allowing check-ins that match your schedule. It can also accommodate shorter progress-focused sessions or longer weekly work, depending on what you and the therapist agree will help you meet your goals.