- CBT techniques
- DBT skills
- Caregiver support
About Whitney
Whitney Leininger is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) practicing in Michigan with three years of clinical experience. She works with people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, grief, self-esteem concerns, compassion fatigue, and life changes. Social anxiety and phobia are listed among her focus areas. Sessions are described as collaborative and practical.
Whitney uses time-tested therapeutic techniques to help people manage symptoms and build coping skills. She often works through problems using Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy approaches, along with supportive and solution-focused strategies. That can include simple practices such as journaling, worksheets, and guided reflection.
Her background includes work across community settings, schools, in-home services, and residential treatment facilities. Those roles involved direct mental health and behavioral support for both children and adults with anxiety, depression, mood concerns, and stress related to employment or identity issues.
In sessions she emphasizes collaboration and practical goals. Clients work together with her to identify what they want to change, then try small, manageable steps toward those goals. This might mean practicing a new skill, tracking patterns that influence mood, or using brief behavioral experiments between meetings.
Whitney also addresses caregiver stress, workplace strain, and self-love work. She frames clients as knowledgeable about their own lives and focuses on building strengths and usable coping tools. To begin, people are asked to complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule a first session.
How therapeutic approaches translate to online sessions
Whitney commonly uses Cognitive-Behavioral techniques, which focus on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and testing small behavioral changes to reduce anxiety and improve daily functioning. These techniques are practical and often include brief exercises to try between sessions.She also uses elements of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, which teaches specific skills for tolerating distress, regulating emotions, and improving interpersonal effectiveness. Those skills can be practiced during sessions and applied in real-life situations where social anxiety or stress arises.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Whitney will collaborate with each person to identify goals and then try methods that fit their needs and preferences. This is a step-by-step process where approaches can be adjusted based on what helps most.
Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm the current online options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow for shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. Therapists can guide skill practice, review worksheets or journaling, and set manageable homework that fits into everyday life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
3+ years
Listed in
Michigan
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, grief, self-esteem, compassion fatigue, and life changes, including social anxiety and phobia.
What is her general approach in sessions?
Her style combines Cognitive-Behavioral and Dialectical Behavioral approaches with supportive and solution-focused techniques and practical exercises.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has three years of experience providing direct mental health and behavioral services in several settings.
What credential and location should I know about?
She holds an LMSW, which stands for Licensed Master Social Worker, and is based in Michigan.
Are sessions offered in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
Session formats are not specified in the biography; please confirm the current session options before booking.
How are sessions priced or paid for?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started if I want to meet with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session.