- CBT strategies
- Client-centered care
- DBT skills
About Paula
Dr. Paula Ehrmantraut is an LCPC, LPC, and LPC-MH practicing in South Dakota with 17 years of experience. She works with adults who are struggling with stress, anxiety, addictions, depression, relationship concerns, and issues related to LGBT identity. She also addresses problems tied to adoption and foster care, aging, attachment, autism spectrum concerns, body image, chronic illness and pain, codependency, and substance use.
Her style is straightforward and practical. She helps people learn tools and strategies to move past the specific area that feels stuck. Sessions focus on building skills that can be used between appointments. She emphasizes noticing small positive moments each day as a way to regain motivation.
Dr. Ehrmantraut blends several approaches to fit what each person needs. She draws on client-centered methods to listen and respond to the person in front of her. She uses cognitive behavioral strategies to identify unhelpful thinking and try different behaviors.
Dialectical behavior techniques appear in her work for managing intense emotions and improving coping. Emotionally-focused ideas are used when relationships or attachment patterns are central concerns. She also incorporates existential thinking when people are wrestling with meaning or life direction.
Practical planning is part of sessions: setting small steps, tracking what changes, and adjusting the plan. When someone is ready to begin, she guides them toward clearer goals and more predictable ways to handle stress and urges. Appointments are intended to be collaborative and action-oriented.
How her approaches translate to online sessions
Dr. Ehrmantraut commonly uses client-centered work and cognitive behavioral therapy in her practice. Client-centered work focuses on listening and responding to the person's experience so they feel understood and can find their own solutions. Cognitive behavioral therapy breaks down thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to test new ways of thinking and acting when stress, anxiety, or guilt are present.She also draws on dialectical behavior therapy for emotion regulation and coping skills. DBT skills training teaches practical techniques for tolerating distress, improving interpersonal effectiveness, and managing intense urges that can come with addiction or overwhelming shame.
Finding the right approach is part of the collaboration. She will discuss goals, preferences, and what feels useful, then try methods that match those aims. Adjustments are made as progress and challenges become clearer.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Many people find remote sessions make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, have shorter check-ins when needed, or avoid travel time. The focus online is the same as in person: learning skills, practicing new responses, and working toward clearer daily routines and better emotional control.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
17+ years
Listed in
Montana, Washington, South Dakota, Utah
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, depression, relationship concerns, and LGBT-related issues. Additional focuses include adoption and foster care, aging, attachment, body image, chronic illness, codependency, and substance use.
How would she approach feelings of deep shame or guilt?
She uses practical strategies such as cognitive behavioral techniques and DBT skills to identify unhelpful thoughts and manage strong emotions. Work is structured around learning tools to use between sessions.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 17 years of experience working with adult clients on a wide range of concerns. That background informs how she combines different approaches in sessions.
What credentials and region should I know about?
She holds LCPC, LPC, and LPC-MH credentials and practices in South Dakota. These credentials are shown as LCPC, LPC, and LPC-MH.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
Yes, she accepts international clients. Confirm any practical details about scheduling across time zones when arranging a first appointment.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Exact pricing depends on the clients location.
What do I need to do to start?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session to begin the process.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.