Tonya Carpenter , LCSW

Tonya Carpenter is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Montana who brings a breadth of clinical experience across hospital, school, and private-practice settings. She holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Southern California with an emphasis in Military and Veterans Affairs, and she draws on that training along with lived experience as a veteran to support service members and their families.

Her clinical background includes work in hospital clinics, a six-year private practice, and roles in educational settings supporting middle and high school students as a behavior intervention specialist, as well as experience working with adults with disabilities. Tonya combines a direct, upfront style with a warm, nonjudgmental stance, preferring clear questions and honest conversation while honoring each person’s strengths and resilience.

Tonya helps people facing trauma, military-related concerns, substance use and co-occurring disorders, PTSD, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, relationship and family challenges, grief, parenting struggles, and many other life stressors. She uses client-centered, strengths-based, and solution-focused methods alongside evidence-based techniques such as motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). She is certified in EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), moral reconation therapy (MRT), trauma-focused CBT, and trauma narratives.

Tonya typically responds to messages within 24 hours Monday through Friday and strives to accommodate scheduling needs within the limits of her availability, including some evenings and weekends. She is currently practicing at Aware and aims to partner with clients to improve quality of life and build practical coping skills.

Approaches That Guide Online Care

Tonya uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help clients identify and shift unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns; CBT is practical and often helps with anxiety, depression, and mood regulation. She also incorporates dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), which builds skills in emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness - useful for strong emotions, relationship challenges, and coping with intense stress. In addition, Tonya practices client-centered therapy, focusing on empathic listening and collaboration so clients feel heard and can explore their goals at their own pace.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Tonya works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting strategies over time to find the best path forward.

Online therapy via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging offers flexibility for busy schedules and makes regular care more accessible across distances. These options allow licensed professionals to provide consistent support, skill-building, and check-ins in formats that match each client’s lifestyle and comfort level.