Dr. Paula Ehrmantraut, LCPC, LPC, LPC-MH | Therapist in South Dakota

Practical coping skills
Warm nonjudgmental support
Goal oriented plans

About Paula

Dr. Paula Ehrmantraut offers help for stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship problems, depression, and codependency. She meets each person without judgment and focuses on small, practical steps that can make daily life feel more manageable. Her tone is calm and encouraging, aimed at people who want to change but feel stuck or overwhelmed.

With 17 years of experience, Dr. Ehrmantraut draws on several practical therapies to shape sessions around each person's needs. She uses Client-Centered methods to follow what matters most to the client and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to spot and change unhelpful thinking and behaviors. She also brings elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Emotionally-Focused Therapy when emotional regulation or relationship patterns are central concerns.

In a typical session she listens first, then helps set clear, achievable goals. She teaches coping skills, communication techniques, and steps for managing cravings or compulsive patterns. Sessions emphasize kindness toward oneself and small daily practices that build momentum.

Her background includes long-term practice in South Dakota and experience supporting people across a range of issues from adoption and aging to chronic illness and attachment struggles. She frames therapy as a collaborative process and adjusts the plan as progress is made.

People who choose Dr. Ehrmantraut can expect straightforward, steady support that balances problem-solving with emotional understanding. She encourages starting with a single, manageable step and builds from there.

How her approaches translate to online work

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening and following what matters most to the client; online sessions can still focus on the client’s priorities and immediate concerns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and teaches concrete skills to change them, which works well in a remote setting through exercises and homework. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers skills for managing intense emotions and improving distress tolerance, useful when emotional regulation is a main concern.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work with the client to figure out which methods fit best based on needs, goals, and personal preferences. Plans are adjusted over time as progress is made and new priorities emerge.

Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when time is limited, and reduce travel time. It also supports sharing worksheets, doing behavioral experiments between sessions, and keeping a steady routine that helps make small changes add up.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety AddictionsLGBTRelationship issuesDepression

Additional focus areas

Adoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeBody imageChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependency Commitment issues Communication problems Control issues Dependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Divorce and separation Domestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesEmptinessForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHIV / AIDSHoardingHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivityInfidelityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / loneliness JealousyLife 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

Credentials

Montana, Washington, South Dakota, Utah

Languages

English

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she address?

She helps people facing stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship difficulties, depression, and codependency among other concerns.

What is her general therapeutic style?

Her style is collaborative and direct. She listens first, then sets clear, achievable goals and teaches practical coping skills.

How much experience does she have?

She has 17 years of clinical experience working with a wide range of issues and life stages.

What credentials and location are listed?

She holds the credentials LCPC, LPC, and LPC-MH and practices in South Dakota.

Which languages are offered and can international clients join?

Sessions are offered in English, and international clients are accepted.

What session formats are available?

Session formats are not specified here; please confirm current session options before booking.

How is cost handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with her?

Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.