Dr. Michael Altekruse

Dr. Michael Altekruse is a Wisconsin psychologist (WI Psychologist 2118-57) with 25 years of clinical experience. He works with adults on stress, anxiety, relationship struggles, parenting concerns, depression, ADHD, and questions about life purpose. He has worked in college counseling centers and a school district and draws on that range when meeting with people.

He begins by listening and learning what brought someone to therapy. He asks about specific goals and the obstacles that get in the way. Sessions are practical and straightforward. He does not present himself as someone who has all the answers; instead he looks for actions clients are willing to try.

Dr. Altekruse uses several established approaches in his work. He often applies client-centered methods to understand a person’s perspective. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is used to identify thinking and behavior patterns that maintain distress. Motivational Interviewing and Solution-Focused strategies help people clarify goals and map small steps forward.

He has experience helping people handle communication problems, attachment and abandonment concerns, caregiver stress, fatherhood issues, guilt and shame, impulsivity, isolation, and midlife questions. He also addresses family of origin and broader family problems as individual concerns rather than running family sessions.

People who meet with him should expect honest conversations about what might change and what actions someone is willing to take. He values a calm tone and occasionally uses humor. He asks clients to participate actively in setting goals and tracking progress.

How his approaches translate to online work

Dr. Altekruse commonly uses client-centered therapy to learn about a person’s concerns and priorities, focusing on listening and understanding the client’s viewpoint. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is used to spot unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and try small experiments to shift them. Motivational Interviewing helps clarify what matters most and builds the motivation to take practical steps forward.

Deciding which approach fits best is a collaborative process. He will discuss goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped before. Together the client and therapist choose strategies and adjust them as needed rather than fixing on a single method from the start.

Confirm the therapist's current session formats before booking because the biography does not list specific options. Online work can make scheduling easier, allow shorter check-ins during a busy day, and remove travel time so therapy fits around work or family commitments. Some formats also reduce bandwidth needs or let people keep the camera off when that helps them focus. Ask about available session types when you sign up so you can pick what fits your routine.