Tonya Wacker, LPC, LPCC
Helping people rewrite their life stories
Details
| Name | Tonya Wacker |
|---|---|
| Credentials | LPC, LPCC |
| Based in | Tennessee |
| Licensed in | Kentucky, Tennessee |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 14 |
About Tonya
Tonya Wacker is a licensed professional counselor who brings 14 years of clinical experience to her work in Tennessee. She uses a blend of practical and narrative ideas to help people untangle the threads of their stories. Her style is collaborative and down-to-earth.
She speaks English and works with individuals online and across borders. Tonya focuses on everyday problems that become overwhelming. She helps with anxiety, stress, depression, bipolar concerns, addiction, grief, and relationship issues.
Background and approach
She also supports people facing identity questions, intimacy-related challenges, parenting strain, career changes, and compassion fatigue. Her approach pulls from Narrative and Client-Centered ideas alongside Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy tools. That means sessions can include talking through life stories, practicing new coping skills, and testing small behavior changes.
She adapts methods to fit each person's goals and pace. Clients can expect straightforward, respectful conversation that aims to make daily life easier. Tonya describes her work as creative and pragmatic, with space for reflection and concrete steps.
She frames therapy as a partnership where clients shape the direction. Practical options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
To begin, users complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule according to therapist availability.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names LGBT, Relationship issues, Self esteem among the things Tonya works with, alongside the areas below.
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Aging and geriatric issues
- BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture
- Commitment issues
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Divorce and separation
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Gender dysphoria
- HIV / AIDS
- Isolation / loneliness
- Midlife crisis
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Money and financial issues
- Multicultural concerns
- Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
- Post-traumatic stress
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-love
- Sexual dysfunction
- Sexuality
- Women's issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Tonya among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Tonya among the ways she works.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Listed by Tonya among the ways she works.
- Existential Therapy: Listed by Tonya among the ways she works.
- Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Tonya among the ways she works.
- Motivational Interviewing: Listed by Tonya among the ways she works.
- Psychodynamic Therapy: Listed by Tonya among the ways she works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Tonya among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Tonya directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Tonya directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
How narrative and skills-based work together online
Tonya blends Narrative Therapy with Client-Centered and Cognitive Behavioral approaches to support change. Narrative Therapy focuses on the stories people carry and invites them to reframe problems as separate from identity; this can help with issues like identity, family of origin concerns, and feeling stuck. Client-Centered work emphasizes listening and building a respectful relationship so people feel heard and can explore what matters most. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions interact and uses small experiments and new skills to reduce anxiety, depression, or unhelpful patterns.Choosing an approach is a team process. Tonya works collaboratively to identify goals and tries methods that fit the client's needs and preferences. She adjusts techniques over time so sessions match progress and changing concerns.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video allows face-to-face conversation and guided exercises. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is low or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text messaging suit quick updates, journaling between sessions, or people who find typing more comfortable. These options offer flexibility for different schedules, lifestyles, and comfort levels while keeping the focus on practical progress and real-life coping.
Common questions about this listing
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with anxiety, stress, depression, bipolar concerns, addictions, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting strain, career transitions, and related life challenges.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is collaborative and down-to-earth. Sessions mix narrative conversation with hands-on skills like behavior experiments and emotion regulation.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 14 years of experience offering counseling and has worked with a wide range of concerns and life stages.
Where is she based and what are her credentials?
She practices from Tennessee and holds LPC and LPCC credentials as listed.
Can non-U.S. clients work with her?
Yes. Sessions are offered to international clients and are conducted in English.
What session formats are available?
She meets by video call, phone session, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I start working with her?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Tonya are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Tonya where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
Explore online therapy options »
Or see other therapists in Tennessee »
This is a partner link. We will earn a commission if you sign up through it, at no cost to you. It does not change what you pay or the order of the listings.
Other listings in Tennessee
- Ondria Spivey, LPC-MHSP - Tennessee
- Jessica Wansley, LCSW - Tennessee
- Jamie Brandmair, LCSW - Tennessee
- Rachel Van Dyk, LPC - Tennessee
- All therapists for lgbt »