About Ian
Ian Charnley helps people who are feeling overwhelmed by stress, worry, or heavy life changes. He offers a calm, direct presence so clients can talk through urgent problems and everyday struggles. Ian is a licensed professional counselor - LPC - and a licensed mental health professional - LMHP with 12 years of experience in South Dakota.
He works with common concerns like anxiety, depression, grief, and relationship problems. He also supports people facing trauma, parenting strain, career questions, and identity-related stress.
Background and approach
Sessions focus on practical steps and clearer thinking rather than long lists of theory. Ian draws on several therapy styles to match the way a person prefers to work. He uses client-centered methods to follow what matters most to each person.
He also uses cognitive behavioral techniques to spot unhelpful thinking and build better habits. People can expect straightforward tools for coping, emotional regulation skills, and guidance on improving communication. Ian pays attention to feelings of guilt, shame, anger, and isolation and helps clients make small, steady changes.
He encourages realistic goals and hands-on practice between sessions. Background includes a range of clinical experience with mood disorders, trauma recovery, and relationship difficulties. Ian aims to help clients become more resilient and more able to handle life’s setbacks.
He accepts sessions in English and works with international clients when arrangements allow.
Approaches That Translate Well to Online Sessions
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and following what matters to the client. The therapist reflects feelings and priorities and helps people choose goals that fit their life. This approach is useful for building trust and for people who want a steady, supportive space to talk.Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions. It teaches simple skills to notice unhelpful thinking and try different behaviors. CBT can help with anxiety, depression, stress, and many everyday challenges.
Dialectical behavior therapy, DBT, offers concrete skills for managing intense emotions and improving relationships. It teaches distress-tolerance, emotional regulation, and better interpersonal skills that can reduce impulsive or reactive behavior.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss goals and preferences and try methods that fit the client's needs. Decisions about technique are collaborative and may adjust as progress is made.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different schedules and needs. Video works well for a face-to-face feeling, phone can be easier when bandwidth is limited, live chat provides quick check-ins, and messaging supports ongoing reflection between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life while keeping care consistent.
Questions people ask
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What this counselor works with
Most often
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
Also listed
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Antisocial personality
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Coaching
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Forgiveness
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- LGBT
- Men's issues
- Mood disorders
- Parenting issues
- Post-traumatic stress
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Self esteem
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sexuality
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Trauma and abuse
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 12 years
- Licensed
- South Dakota, Nebraska
- Languages
- English