Dean Altenhofen, LPC

Dean Altenhofen is an LPC with 20 years of experience offering practical, down-to-earth help for people facing relationship strain, depression, trauma, and life transitions. He focuses on how thoughts and everyday habits affect mood and behavior, and he supports clients in finding clearer ways to respond to problems. His approach is straightforward and rooted in real-world skills rather than abstract theory.

He draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help identify unhelpful thinking patterns and build new habits that make daily life easier. Mindfulness practices are used to steady attention and reduce reactivity when emotions run high. Solution-Focused Therapy helps keep work practical and goal-oriented, so sessions often result in clear next steps to try between meetings.

Clients can expect a respectful, nonjudgmental space where their experience guides the work. The therapist emphasizes collaboration - so goals come from the client's priorities, not a preset plan. Sessions often include talking through situations, practicing new responses, and experimenting with small behavior changes.

Dean has worked with LGBTQ concerns, trauma and abuse, coping with life changes, and a range of relationship issues. He also addresses related topics such as abandonment, infidelity, communication problems, and substance concerns. Chronic pain and co-occurring problems are within his scope of focus.

Based in Louisiana, he works in English. To start, prospective clients use the site's Start Therapy button and complete a short matching questionnaire before scheduling according to availability.

How these approaches translate to online therapy

Dean uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help people notice and change unhelpful thoughts and small daily habits that keep problems in place. CBT sessions typically involve identifying thought patterns, testing them against real situations, and practicing new behaviors between meetings.

Mindfulness Therapy is offered as a way to steady attention and reduce reactivity. Simple mindfulness practices taught in sessions can make it easier to respond calmly to strong emotions and handle stress in day-to-day life.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals and preferences, then suggest whether CBT, mindfulness, or solution-focused steps make the most sense. Decisions are made together and can be adjusted as work progresses.

Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. In general, online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, shorten commute time, and allow brief check-ins when needed. It also allows focusing on skills practice and real-world experiments between sessions to build new habits without promising a specific format.