What patients are saying
Overall rating
4.94
Average wait time
4.93
Bedside manner
5.00
“My time with Dorothee Ischler was invaluable. She listened, asked pointed questions and gave thoughtful and empowering feedback.
In the most gentle way, Dorothee had the ability to help me see issues and experiences from a totally different perspective. ”
ELLess than 1 year ago
“I will continue to see Dr. Dorthee. She listened and asked pointed questions to get as much into the situation as she needed to. She is skilled and wise.
With so much experience in family challenges and function I am exactly where I need to be right now.”
Initials hiddenAugust 9, 2025
About Dorothee Ischler
Focus areas
Anxiety Disorder
Couples Conflict Resolution
Marriage Counseling
Attachment Disorder
Depression
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Childhood Trauma
EMDR Therapy
Clientele seen
Adults (25-64)
Teenagers (13-17)
Families
Young adults (18-24)
Individuals
Seniors (65+)
Couples
Identity
Gender
FemaleSexuality
StraightEthnicity
White
Languages spoken
English, German
Getting to know Dorothee Ischler
Dr. Dorothee Ischler is a Licensed Psychologist and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with more than 35 years of clinical experience helping individuals, couples, and families navigate emotional pain, relationship struggles, trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, and life transitions.
She specializes in trauma therapy, EMDR, and couples counseling. Her work integrates several evidence-based and relational approaches, including EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Gottman Method techniques, cognitive behavioral therapy, and relational life approaches that support emotional healing, resilience, and deeper connection.
Dr. Ischler works with adults and couples who may feel overwhelmed, stuck, emotionally disconnected, burdened by painful past experiences, or caught in repeating relationship patterns. She believes therapy should be both compassionate and practical — a place where people feel emotionally safe while also being challenged to grow, reflect, and create meaningful change.
Originally trained in Germany before continuing her professional education in the United States, Dr. Ischler brings a multicultural and deeply human perspective to her work. Her professional background includes decades of experience in private practice, work with trauma survivors, couples in distress, and individuals struggling with anxiety, self-esteem issues, loss, and relationship difficulties.
Patients often appreciate her warmth, honesty, depth of experience, and ability to help them understand the deeper emotional patterns influencing their lives and relationships. She values creating a therapeutic environment where clients feel respected, understood, and supported in building greater resilience and emotional well-being.
Dr. Ischler offers both in-person and telehealth appointments for adults and couples.
What should a new client know about working with you?
I strive to create a warm, supportive, and emotionally safe environment where clients feel heard, respected, and understood. At the same time, I believe therapy should be an active process that helps people gain insight, develop healthier patterns, and move toward meaningful change.
My approach is relational, compassionate, and practical. I work collaboratively with clients and tailor therapy to their individual needs, personalities, and goals. Some clients come to therapy seeking support through a difficult life transition, while others are struggling with anxiety, trauma, depression, relationship distress, grief, or long-standing emotional patterns that no longer serve them.
In my work with couples, I help partners improve communication, deepen emotional connection, reduce destructive interaction cycles, and better understand each other’s underlying needs and vulnerabilities. My approach to couples therapy is influenced by Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Gottman Method techniques, and relational approaches that emphasize accountability, emotional attunement, and healthier connection.
In trauma work, including EMDR therapy, I help clients process painful experiences in a way that reduces emotional overwhelm and supports healing and resilience. I also pay close attention to how stress and trauma affect the nervous system, emotions, relationships, and sense of self.
Clients often describe me as warm, direct, thoughtful, and engaged. I value authenticity and believe healing occurs within a trusting therapeutic relationship where clients can safely explore difficult emotions, experiences, and patterns while developing greater self-awareness, emotional balance, and resilience.
What is your typical process for working with clients?
Together we explore patterns that may be contributing to emotional distress, relationship difficulties, anxiety, depression, trauma responses, or feeling “stuck.” I believe therapy works best when it is collaborative, thoughtful, and tailored to the individual or couple rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.
Sessions are interactive and conversational. Depending on your needs, therapy may include emotional processing, learning coping skills, identifying unhelpful thought patterns, improving communication, exploring relationship dynamics, developing healthier boundaries, or working through unresolved trauma. For trauma treatment, I may integrate EMDR therapy when appropriate and when clients are ready for that work.
In couples therapy, I help partners slow down difficult interactions, better understand each other emotionally, improve communication, and work toward healthier ways of relating. I often help couples recognize the negative cycles they get caught in and develop more constructive and connected patterns.
I believe meaningful change happens through a combination of insight, emotional awareness, practical tools, and a strong therapeutic relationship. My goal is to help clients feel more grounded, resilient, connected, and empowered in their daily lives and relationships.
Dorothee Ischler, DMFT is not in-network with any insurances
It’s common for mental health providers to be out-of-network. Many insurance plans offer out-of-network coverage, so you may get partially reimbursed. Learn more
Office location
Dorothee Ischler, DMFT also offers online video visits for patients
Education and background
Practice names
Education and training
- Argosy University, Doctor of Marriage and Family Therapy
- University of Minnesota (Marriage and Family Therapy)
- Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Clinical Psychology)
NPI number
1891858874
Patient reviews
All reviews have been submitted by patients after interacting with the practice.
Overall rating
4.94
Wait time
4.93
Bedside manner
5.00
Your trust is our top concern, so providers can't pay to alter or remove reviews. We also don't publish reviews that contain any private patient health information. Learn more here
17 reviews
Most relevant
Dorthea has always made me feel valued and has helped me through a lot of things.
More than 1 year agoJS
My time with Dorothee Ischler was invaluable. She listened, asked pointed questions and gave thoughtful and empowering feedback.
In the most gentle way, Dorothee had the ability to help me see issues and experiences from a totally different perspective.
Less than 1 year agoEL
I will continue to see Dr. Dorthee. She listened and asked pointed questions to get as much into the situation as she needed to. She is skilled and wise.
With so much experience in family challenges and function I am exactly where I need to be right now.
August 9, 2025Initials hidden
I have nothing but gratitude, appreciation, and thanks for your time the last 16 months. I was surprise how long we stayed in the therapy. And in all honesty, I could keep going on and on meeting with you . Your insight, knowledge and understanding and passion for what you do and its relationship to the person, is incredible. I was a bit nervous about going to therapy, however, after the first session or two, I was relaxed and really looking forward to a "healthy growth" in mine and Bec's relationship. And learning more about myself and better understanding my childhood (although there is much more I could learn) helped me understand my side of the relationship and what I could/should do to make it
Thank you so much Dr, Dorothee. You have been a delight to work with! And Bec (although can speak for herself) and I feel it was the best thing we could have done with our relationship. Therapy and finding you.......
Repectfully,
Pete Bachrach
More than 1 year agoPB
Having a session with Dr. Dorothee Ischler is nourishing for my soul. When I am in her presence, I know that she is listening, seeing me, and doing her best to accurately assess what is the most pressing concern. I feel assured that her knowledge of therapeutic techniques and research in the field is up to date in many areas. Dr. Dorothee cares and wants to help her clients grow to learn how to better regulate the stresses of life.
More than 1 year agoMH
I found Dr. Ischler to possess a unique combination of expertise with a very warm and welcoming presence that put me at ease. Each an every session with Dr. Ischler was time well spent because she recognized where I was, what we needed to explore and understand. She guided thi exploration and discovery with forthrightness, humor and kindness. She showed me a plethora of tools to use and I do use them!
I appreciate that she used different modalities to address the complicated issues and patterns of behavior. I highly recommend Dr. Ischler to anyon needing guidance, support, healing and peace.
More than 1 year agoKS
Dr. Ischler made me feel so comfortable and at ease right away. She has such a calming voice and demeanor. I definitely felt heard and understood and I really appreciated her perspective and advice. I look forward to my next appointment!
January 17, 2025Karen L.Verified patient
Dr. Dorothee Ischler always welcomes me warmly into her office and helps me to feel comfortable at the start of each session. Talking with her is easy because I feel heard, and safe to talk with her about any concerns or issues I am having. I feel assured by her years of experience and her desire to keep her learning up to date. I would highly recommend Dr. Ischler to anyone looking for a genuine connection and solid psychological support.
More than 1 year agoMH
I experienced sessions with Dr. Dorothee as the model of helpful therapy. She brought professionalism, education, and wisdom based on many years of experience to our meetings. She offered compassionate and kind CARE. Her nonjudgemental demeanor inspired my confidence and trust so that I was able to open up to her about my story. She listened in a way that made me feel seen, heard, and validated. And then she offered helpful resources--educational information and practices that seemed tailored to my personality, that made me feel empowered, cared about, and valuable. I highly recommend her to people who want someone who will believe in them and their internal strength and resilience. She has supported my emergence into a thriving way of life.
More than 1 year agoTR
It’s been a while since I’ve seen her. I would of loved to continue using her as my psychologist but I moved away. She is very knowledgeable and seems to be an expert in many ways. She helped me using EMDR.
More than 1 year agoRS
I have seen this provider for many years. She is very insightful and compassionate and has helped me greatly. I highly recommend her.
More than 1 year agoJE
I struggled a lot when I went to school and it eventually got to the point that I felt I needed help. I went to a few different psychologists but everyone always felt so clinical. When I saw Dr. Ischler it was a completely different experience. She was warm and friendly. Whenever I saw her it felt like I was just having a conversation with someone. On top of her demeanor, she was also very knowledgeable. She had an answer for every question and often her answers felt like they were tailored to me.
My only complaint is occasionally she was a little late to appointments, but good things come to those who wait.
More than 1 year agoMG
I found Dr. Ischler to be very professional with a quiet manner that was welcoming and genuine. She was an active listener and I greatly appreciated her use of wait time allowing me to process through complex issues, perceptions and feelings. I also appreciated Dr. Ischler's use of a variety of modalities to assist me in therapy.
Lastly, the insights, knowledge and wisdom shared by Dr. Ischler is still with me and I use so much of it in my daily life...two years later and counting. That is the work of an outstanding therapist!
More than 1 year agoKS
April 29, 2025AMY R.Verified patient
March 31, 2025AMY R.Verified patient
More than 1 year agoInitials hidden
More than 1 year agoInitials hidden
How soon can I make an appointment with Dorothee Ischler?
Generally, Dorothee Ischler has appointments available on Zocdoc within 1 week. You can see Dorothee Ischler's earliest availability on Zocdoc and make an appointment online.
Is Dorothee Ischler accepting new patients?
Dorothee Ischler generally accepts new patients on Zocdoc. You can see Dorothee Ischler's earliest availability on Zocdoc and schedule an appointment online.
Does Dorothee Ischler accept my insurance?
Choose your insurance plan to verify if Dorothee Ischler is in-network.
Can I make an appointment with Dorothee Ischler online?
Yes, you can make an appointment online with Dorothee Ischler using Zocdoc. It’s simple, secure, and free.
What practice does Dorothee Ischler work with?
Dorothee Ischler works with Center for Healing and Resilience.
Where is Dorothee Ischler's office located?
Dorothee Ischler has 2 office locations in Northfield, view full addresses on Dorothee Ischler's profile.
What are common reasons for patients to see Dorothee Ischler?
Dorothee Ischler frequently sees patients for Depression, New Patient Visit, Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy Intake / Initial Visit, and Therapy. You can see other visit reasons for Dorothee Ischler on their profile.
What languages does Dorothee Ischler speak?
Dorothee Ischler speaks English, German, and Polish.
How do patients rate Dorothee Ischler in reviews?
17 patients have reviewed Dorothee Ischler. The overall rating for this doctor is 4.94/5. They have a 5/5 rating for bedside manner and a 4.93/5 rating for wait time. You can read individual reviews and ratings on their profile.