Dean Altenhofen, LPC

Dean Altenhofen is an LPC (licensed professional counselor) based in Louisiana with 20 years of experience. He focuses on relationship concerns, depression, trauma and abuse, LGBT issues, and coping with life changes. He aims to create a straightforward, respectful space where people can talk about what’s happening in their lives and figure out next steps.

Dean uses practical approaches that help people notice patterns and try small changes. He often works with cognitive behavioral ideas to identify unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors. He also uses mindfulness practices to help calm the body and bring attention back to the present moment.

Sessions tend to focus on clear goals and doable steps. People who feel stuck after a breakup, face commitment questions, or are dealing with family-of-origin issues can expect a direct, problem-focused style. Dean also addresses topics like chronic pain and illness, addiction, and sexual culture concerns including BDSM and kink in a nonjudgmental way.

His counseling draws on two decades of practice in Louisiana and centers on helping people use their own strengths. He encourages honest talk about guilt, shame, abandonment, or infidelity and helps clients build concrete skills for communication and coping.

Starting therapy with him involves naming a few goals and trying practical strategies between sessions. The approach is collaborative and geared toward real-world changes rather than abstract discussion.

How his approaches translate to online work

Many of his methods translate well to remote sessions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing different behaviors to see what helps. It is useful for depression, anxiety, and relationship patterns. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices to reduce reactivity and increase calm; it can help with stress, chronic pain, and emotional overwhelm. Solution-Focused Therapy concentrates on small, achievable steps and practical changes that move people toward their goals.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. He will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped before. Together the therapist and client decide whether to lean more on CBT, mindfulness, or solution-focused techniques and adjust the plan as they go.

Confirm the therapist's current session options before booking, as formats are not specified here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It also supports continuity of care when life changes make in-person visits harder. Ask about the session structure and timing that best suit your schedule before you begin.