Mental Health Counseling Services in Oconomowoc

"Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen." -Brene Brown

Angie Byers, MS, LPC has helped clients improve their mental well-being for over 10+ years, offering psychotherapy services for adolescents, teens and adults. Angie takes an eclectic and personal approach for the best, individual outcome. Using several methods of therapy based on the needs of each unique client, we’ll build self awareness, identify areas for growth and learn to cope and self regulate in more adaptive ways.

Areas of Expertise & Treatment

Eating Disorders

Eating disorder and disordered eating is at the heart of our practice. Angie Byers LPC treats the spectrum of eating disorders including disordered eating and body image issues. We take a collaborative approach with dietitians, psychiatrists and doctors.

Using the Health at Every Size (HAES) philosophy, we encourage
1. Weight inclusivity

The acceptance and respect for the inherent diversity of body shapes and sizes. The rejection of idealizing or pathologizing specific weights.

2. Health enhancement

Support health policies to improve and equalize access to information and services, and personal practices that improve human well-being, including attention to individual physical, economic, social, spiritual, emotional and other needs.

3. Eating for well-being

Promote flexible, individualized eating based on hunger, satiety, nutritional needs and pleasure, rather than any externally regulated eating plan focused on weight control.

4. Respectful care

Acknowledge biases and work to end weight discrimination, weight stigma and weight bias. Provide information and services from an understanding of socio-economic status, race, gender, sexual orientation, age and other identities impacting weight stigma and the support of environments addressing these inequities.

5. Life-enhancing movement

Support physical activities to allow people of all sizes, abilities and interests to engage in enjoyable movement, to the degree they choose.

Body Image

Body image refers to one’s emotional attitudes, beliefs and perceptions of their own body. Several factors like social media, friends, family, culture and societal expectations influence body image. Angie Byers LPC treats body image and body dysmorphia by exploring all contributing factors, reshaping perspective and utilizing body image therapies.

Strategies for Body Image Treatment
  • Challenge negative thinking and self-image
  • Make thoughts and self-talk kind and positive
  • Self-monitoring (journaling)
  • Improve self-awareness
  • Cognitive restructuring (modifying unhealthy thoughts, feelings & behaviors)
  • Target avoidance and compulsive behaviors
  • Establish a self-care routine
  • Evaluate other mental health concerns

Self Esteem

Self-esteem psychotherapy targets individual beliefs, behavior and thoughts. By using self-esteem therapy strategies, Angie Byers LPC helps patients recognize the cause of painful feelings and show patients how their limitations are self-imposed. Trapped emotions can be diminished by learning to evaluate situations differently and changing negative self-talk.

Anxiety & Depression

Anxiety or depression treatment plans are customized to each client and focus on finding the root cause. When necessary, we take a collaborative approach with psychiatrists and doctors.

Anxiety & Depression Treatments for
  • Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) 
  • Bipolar disorder (BP) 
  • Clinical depression 
  • Social anxiety 
  • Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) 
  • Panic attacks 
  • Phobias

Grief & Loss

No two people respond to loss in the same way. Rather, stages of grief include a variety of emotions as an individual makes sense of how their loss affects them. Experiencing and accepting all feelings surrounding loss is an important part of the healing process. APB LLC walks clients through common stages such as denial, numbness, shock, depression symptoms, anger and acceptance.

Moving Forward & Life Transitions

The goal of life transition therapy is to guide individuals through life-altering events using healthy coping mechanisms.

Types of Transitions

1. ANTICIPATED TRANSITIONS: Acceptance and adjustment when expected changes don't meet expectations.

  • Graduation
  • Starting a new job
  • Marriage
  • Growing the family

2. UNANTICIPATED TRANSITIONS: Adjusting to changes not previously in your life vision.

  • Relocation
  • Illness
  • Accidents
  • Relationship change

3. NON-EVENT TRANSITIONS: The absence of an expected event. When things don't go to plan.

  • Not getting a promotion, raise
  • Marriage challenges
  • Infertility
  • Home expectations
  • Grief or loss

4. SLEEPER TRANSITIONS: Gradual changes without awareness or recognition.

  • Addiction
  • Declining health
  • Unhealthy relationships
  • Outgrowing a job

Women Issues

Everywhere you turn, there’s an expectation being placed on you. Being a good daughter, wife, mother and professional is tough work. Angie Byers LPC helps navigate the unique and common challenges of being a woman.

Pregnancy & Postpartum

Angie Byers LPC provides psychotherapy services for pre & postpartum depression, anxiety and birth trauma. Pregnancy and caring for an infant bring enormous changes to parents' lives. Your body, schedule, roles and relationship all face new challenges. According to an NCBI study, postpartum depression occurs in 6.5% - 20% of women. You don’t have to feel like this and getting help is the best thing you can do for yourself and your family. Your anxiety, depression and even OCD can be managed.

Common pre and postpartum depression and anxiety symptoms
  • Sadness, hopelessness
  • Guilt, shame
  • Irritability, anger
  • Feeling of emptiness
  • Lack of interest, not feeling “bonded” with spouse or baby
  • Feelings of inadequacy or insecurity
  • Fear
  • Dizziness, chest pain, lightheadedness
  • Intrusive thoughts and ruminating

Infertility & Miscarriage

Experiencing infertility and miscarriage takes a toll on your mind, body, finances and relationships. You don’t have to go through it alone. Angie Byers LPC helps clients navigate the challenging, heartbreaking emotions of infertility and infant loss. You’ll receive support, comfort, a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on, but more importantly: The coping tools you’ll need to move forward.

Trauma & PTSD

Traumatic events often bring on emotions of distress, fear, helplessness, guilt, shame and anger. You may start to feel better after some time, but often, the symptoms of traumatic events won’t subside on their own. It’s important to seek help for PTSD. Without treatment, the psychological symptoms of PTSD are likely to worsen over time and affect other areas of your life.

Symptoms of trauma and PTSD
  • Intrusive thoughts or memories
  • Flashbacks
  • Nightmares
  • Depression, hopelessness
  • Detachment
  • Insomnia
  • Fatigue
  • Trouble with concentration
  • Self-destructive or risk-taking behaviors