Welcome to our MPC website. I am a licensed clinical social worker with 25 years of direct practice in the Madison area and I founded our clinic in 1993. I enjoy helping clients reach a positive outcome to their issues and provide an eclectic approach by which I facilitate change. I believe in empowering my clients by listening carefully and providing options and solutions not yet discovered by them. I hold a Masters degree in Social Work with a concentration in counseling and have had extensive post-masters’ training since then. In addition, my career has included a diverse range of settings and services, both private and public, which contribute to my knowledge and skill base. I also taught social work and sociology classes at the University level for two years. As a result of all of my experience, here are the following areas in which I have special expertise:
COUPLE THERAPY. I enjoy strengthening couple relationships and preventing breakups whenever possible. Sometimes a couple just need a “tune-up” while others need a major repair to be healthy. I believe in robust and healthy relationships and have studied with many leading couple practitioners to acquire skill in this area. I have successfully worked with all types of couples, including nontraditional ones.
DIVORCE ADJUSTMENT. I have a 26-year specialization history in the area of helping individuals heal from a divorce/breakup. I see persons in that situation individually, and also have many years experience facilitating a Rebuilding group program in the Madison area.
BLENDED FAMILIES. I find this is a challenging area for families and taught a class for parents to strengthen their step-parenting skills for two years at Meriter Hospital. I have also had success in creating healthier patterns within stepfamilies and between stepparents’ and children in my clinical practice.
SURVIVORS OF ABUSE. I have dealt extensively with survivors of domestic abuse as well as survivors of childhood abuse/neglect. Many times the two are related, and healing of distrust, low self-esteem, numbed out feelings, and self-blame leads to a much more stable and happier future. I have had extensive training in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
MOOD DISORDERS. I have extensive experience counseling persons with anxiety, depression, and bi-polar illness, as well as delayed grief and loss. At least 10% of the American public suffers from mood disorders, and at least 80% of these can be successfully treated by mental health professionals if they seek treatment.
CHILDREN. I have special training in play therapy and will see children age 7-12 at this time using that modality. I have a special interest in helping children of divorce. I am happy to see teens and young adults to empower them for a healthy adult life and to help them face their challenges in today’s world.
Please call me with any questions you may have. Leave a message on my Voice Mailbox and I will get back with you personally as soon as possible.
Linda Pettersen, MSW, LCSW
Madison Psychotherapy Center
702 N. Blackhawk Ave, Suite 205, Madison WI 53705
Phone: (608) 233-3037 ext 01
Fax: (608) 233-5893
linda@mpccounseling.com
