I am enthusiastic about sharing the "visions" of Visions Counseling.  It is my heart’s desire to serve those who recognize a problem, take the risk to reach out for support, and have the courage to seek solutions.

I personally have experienced challenges related to trauma, depression, and addiction.   Since my junior year of high school, I felt called to pursue a career related to psychology and counseling.   Each step of this path has given me greater reliance on Spirit for wisdom and compassion, for my own healing as well as helping others find wellbeing.  I have been guided to many practical therapy tools that are powerful for personal transformation.

My years of college education were a “just enough light for the step I’m on” type of journey to becoming a counselor.  After graduating from high school, I attempted to “get a job just to earn money”, but a back injury forced me to listen to the counseling call.  I began college with thoughts of becoming a psychologist, then turned toward teaching when I decided working with children was preferable to studies with lab rodents.  I considered it to be “applied psychology” to be teaching special education students who had emotional and behavioral disabilities.

I enrolled at UW Marathon Center in Wausau with much fear of failure, and I studied fiercely to overcome it.  With achievements in honors classes and a very high grade point average, the faculty recognized me for the academic award for excellence. I received a scholarship to attend UW Madison; my link to a wider recovery circle and new perspectives on diversity, acceptance, and human potential.

The years during my undergraduate program in the School of Education at UW-Madison were a time of empowerment.  I learned to seek out and accept support for healing from my family of origin issues, eating disorder, and depression.  Some of my friends dropped out of college, their poor grades seemed the outcome of their feeling alone and afraid.  I realized that students labeled “Emotionally and Behaviorally Disabled” had tended not to have attached to at least one emotionally available person.   My connectedness was provided through the nurturing staff at Lutheran Campus Center, and my recovery family.

Returning to the Wausau area, I landed a job in the school district.   What logically seemed like stability and the start of a great teaching career ended quickly.  My bent toward therapy shone through with my special education students, which was a mismatch for that initial job.  A second teaching position at Menominee Indian High School in Keshena confirmed for me that I desired to influence lives through counseling rather than in the school system.

I felt called once again to return to college, to earn a Master’s Degree in Social Work, which I had heard was the “power” to become an independent therapist.  I argued with God about the pull toward attending college in Milwaukee, rather than familiar Madison.   But Milwaukee had the Social Work program most  highly recognized, and would be my link to progressive training in recovery from alcohol and drug abuse, eating disorders, and trauma issues. 

Returning to college meant leaving a stable teacher’s salary, attachment to Native American culture and a sense of purpose in my work on the reservation, healthy recovery living situation, and involvement in church.  My social work courses and recovery path offered the tools for myself becoming whole.  Through a variety of natural health professionals, I learned about herbal medicine, Avurveda, options for recovery support, and Nia dance. Though I appreciate the science of Western medicine, I gathered awareness of the healing power of Eastern approaches and traditional natural practices. My perspective has become wholistic and integrated. 

As a “poor college student” I realized how difficult it was to find, and afford, supportive counseling from a professional who shared Christian and wholistic values. Not having insurance, or enough insurance, can be an obstacle to life-changing therapy.  My Masters in Social Work from UW-Milwaukee empowers me to serve you as a "solution-focused" counselor.  My training in Unconditional Love and Forgiveness, Imagery Rescripting and Reprocessing, and natural paths of recovery from addictions lets me offer tools that go beyond traditional clinical counseling approaches.

Wendie J. Martell, MSW, CADC, Certified Tauma Counselor

Resume Information:

Employment History
February 2000 to present -Visions Counseling:  Counselor, therapist, primarily using the Solution-Focused approach, facilitator of Imagery Reprocessing and Rescripting Therapy, and guide for the steps of Unconditional Love and Forgiveness. Skilled at assisting those seeking recovery from eating disorders, alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse, and relationship issues

October 2003 to present - Nia Instructor- Level 1, white belt April 2004, teach body, mind, emotion, spirit Fusion Fitness, inclusive of all exercise ability levels. Current classes at YMCA, Center for Creative Wellness, Circle of Joy, Aspirus Wausau Hospital Behavioral Health Inpatient Psychiatric Unit

July 1999 to Present -  Aspirus Wausau Hospital Behavioral Health
November 1998 to December 2000 -  St. Mary's Hospital, Rhinelander
Interview patients for psychosocial assessments. Coordinate discharge planning.  Facilitate individual, group, and family therapy. Incorporate nutrition, wellness, and Nia dance with supportive resources for patient's wholistic wellbeing.

October 2002 to July 2005 - Northcentral Technical College-  Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drug Abuse Prevention Coordinator;  Facilitated Grant Program to serve students and staff at NTC;  Gave presentations, constructed table displays, scheduled speakers, coordinated health and wellness fairs on campus. Led groups and provided individual assessment and counseling for ATODA and issues related to wellbeing.

Education
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Social Welfare 
Fall 1996 to Summer 1998. Master’s Program in Social Work; Applied Practice Mental Health and Addictive Behaviors Curriculum.  Spring 1997 School of Social Welfare Alumni Scholarship; GPA 3.8
University  of Wisconsin- Madison School of Education
Fall1990- Spring 1993, 1992-1993 Outstanding Student of the Year in Special Education; GPA 4.0
University of Wisconsin- Marathon Center
Fall 1987- Spring 1990 The Faculty’s Award for Academic Excellence
Northcentral Technical College, Wausau, WI 
Fall 1982 to Spring 1984  Associate Degree in Business
Merrill High School Graduate, Merrill, WI Spring, 1982

Certification
Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW)
Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC)
Certified Trauma Counselor
Nia Certified - Current Class Listing
Nia is movement therapy, and it is through movement that we find health.