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PE Portrait of Dr. Paula Ehrmantraut

Dr. Paula Ehrmantraut

Calm, practical guidance for meaningful change

LCPC, LPC, LPC-MH South Dakota

Experience
17 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, LGBT
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages
English

About Paula

Dr. Paula Ehrmantraut offers support for stress, anxiety, addictions, LGBT concerns, relationship difficulties, and depression.

Background and approach

With 17 years of clinical experience, she helps clients develop practical tools and strategies to move beyond the problems that brought them to therapy. Her approach emphasizes finding daily positives and building motivation for change even when progress feels slow.

Dr. Ehrmantraut blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with client-centered and emotionally focused methods to shape individualized treatment plans.

She draws on a range of therapeutic ideas to address issues such as attachment concerns, communication problems, body image, chronic pain and illness, substance use, and divorce or separation. Her work also includes support related to adoption and foster care, aging and geriatric issues, autism and Asperger Syndrome, codependency, and other listed areas of focus.

Based in South Dakota, Dr. Ehrmantraut holds LCPC, LPC, and LPC-MH credentials and accepts international clients.

She frames therapy as a collaborative process that aims to understand rather than judge, helping clients take practical steps toward a more productive and satisfying life.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Dr. Ehrmantraut uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients identify unhelpful thinking patterns and build practical coping skills; CBT often targets symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress through structured exercises and goal-focused work. She also employs Client-Centered Therapy, which emphasizes empathetic listening and supporting clients to find their own solutions by creating a respectful and accepting therapeutic relationship. Additionally, elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy may be used to teach emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills when intense emotions or self-destructive behaviors are present.

Finding the right approach is part of the collaborative work in therapy. The therapist will explore a client’s goals, preferences, and presenting concerns to decide which methods or combination of methods best fit the situation, adjusting the plan as progress is made.

Online sessions are offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These formats allow clients to access licensed professionals from their location and to continue skill practice and check-ins between longer sessions, making it easier to maintain momentum toward therapeutic goals.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Dr. Ehrmantraut address?
She supports people dealing with stress, anxiety, addictions, LGBT issues, relationship struggles, and depression, along with many additional focus areas listed in her profile.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is collaborative and nonjudgmental, combining practical skill-building with attention to emotion and personal values to help clients make progress.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Dr. Ehrmantraut has 17 years of experience working with clients across a range of mental health and life concerns.
What credentials and location are listed for this therapist?
She holds LCPC, LPC, and LPC-MH credentials with licence details MT LCPC BBH-LCPC-LIC-1196 and SD LPC LPC-MH30682, and is based in South Dakota.
Can non-U.S. clients work with her?
Yes, she accepts international clients and conducts sessions with English-speaking clients.
Which session formats are available?
Sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different needs and preferences.
How are fees and payment handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin working together?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Additional focus areas

Adoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeBody imageChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Divorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesEmptinessForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHIV / AIDSHoardingHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivityInfidelityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPhobiasPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseSexual dysfunctionSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationTraumatic brain injuryTrichotillomaniaWomen's issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

17+ years

Licensed

Montana, Washington, South Dakota, Utah

Languages

English