Donna Altepeter, LCSW

Licensed in Wisconsin · 12 years in practice

Donna Altepeter helps people who are feeling overwhelmed by stress, grief, anxiety, or life changes.

License and registration

LCSW, Wisconsin: 6641-123 · expires February 2027
NPI: 1184791774 · national provider identifier
Years in practice: 12
Languages: English

Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check any license with the state board and any NPI with the national registry.

About Donna

Donna Altepeter helps people who are feeling overwhelmed by stress, grief, anxiety, or life changes. She writes plainly and listens closely to what matters to each person. Donna brings a steady, open attitude to sessions and focuses on practical steps people can try between meetings.

Donna holds a Master of Social Work and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker - LCSW. She has practiced for 12 years in settings that included work with serious illness, bereavement, and mood concerns.

Background and approach

Her background also includes more than 20 years teaching social work at the University of Wisconsin, which shaped her collaborative, educational style. In sessions she uses client-centered work alongside cognitive behavioral and mindfulness approaches. That means she centers the person's goals, looks at thoughts and behaviors that get in the way, and practices simple mindfulness skills to manage difficult moments.

She also draws on motivational and narrative methods when people want to clarify values or reframe painful stories. Donna favors short, clear goals and practical tools you can use right away. She describes therapy as a partnership where the person is the expert on their life and the therapist offers ideas, feedback, and coaching.

Many people find this mix helpful for coping with depression, anxiety, caregiving strain, relationship concerns, and big life transitions. Sessions are offered from Wisconsin and conducted in English. Donna emphasizes steady support, clear conversation, and working together to find what helps in day-to-day life.

Focus areas and approaches

Everything Donna lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.

Stress, Anxiety
Grief
Self esteem
Depression
Compassion fatigue
Addictions
Relationship issues
Family conflicts
Trauma and abuse
Intimacy-related issues
Sleeping disorders
Parenting issues
Anger management
Career difficulties
Coping with life changes
Coaching
Aging and geriatric issues
Attachment issues
Cancer
Caregiver issues and stress
Codependency
Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
Divorce and separation
Forgiveness
Guilt and shame
Hospice and end-of-life counseling
Infidelity
Isolation / loneliness
Life purpose
Mood disorders
Multicultural concerns
Postpartum depression
Post-traumatic stress
Pregnancy and childbirth
Prejudice and discrimination
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Self-love
Women's issues

Approaches Donna names

Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.

Online support

Approach and options for online therapy

Donna commonly uses client-centered work, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness practice. Client-centered work focuses on listening and following what matters most to the person, helping them set their own goals and priorities. Cognitive behavioral therapy looks at thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going and teaches concrete steps to change them, which can help with anxiety and depression. Mindfulness therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices to reduce overwhelm and improve emotion regulation.

Choosing the right approach is part of the process and Donna treats it as a collaboration. She will help you decide what methods to try based on your goals, day-to-day needs, and preferences, and adjust the plan as you go. The work is shared and flexible rather than one-size-fits-all.

Online therapy offers practical options for staying consistent. Video calls let you see facial cues and use screen-based tools. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or you need a check-in without video. Live chat and text-based messaging give brief, frequent contact and can fit into a busy day. These formats make it easier to use therapy around work, caregiving, or medical appointments.

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Questions people ask

What concerns does Donna commonly address?

She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and family concerns, caregiving strain, addictions, and many life transition issues.

How would you describe her therapeutic style?

Her style is collaborative and practical, combining client-centered listening with cognitive behavioral and mindfulness techniques to set short-term goals.

What is her professional background?

Donna has a Master of Social Work, has taught social work at the University of Wisconsin for over 20 years, and brings 12 years of clinical practice experience.

Where is Donna licensed and based?

She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker - LCSW in Wisconsin and conducts sessions from that state.

Are sessions available in other languages or internationally?

Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients.

What formats are used for therapy sessions?

Sessions can take place as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on the client's needs.

How does payment and cost work?

Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with Donna?

Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

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