Therapy
Reflective, clinically grounded support for emotional distress, identity questions, relational patterns, and life transitions.
Dr. Aaron Mertes
Smokefall Counseling
A steady, reflective space for counseling, therapy, rehabilitation-informed support, and public education about the counseling process.
I'm glad you're here.
What brings you in?
Services
Therapy that attends to emotion, story, work, and relationship.
My style draws first on Emotion-Focused work grounded in attachment and neurobiological understandings of trauma, informed by systems theory when working with couples and families, existential attention to the larger scope of a person's life, and cognitive-behavioral tools for working with thought patterns. Together we notice what's actually happening — emotionally, relationally, physically — understand the protective logic behind it, build the capacity to regulate distress, and connect that insight to real change in daily life.
Rehabilitation Counseling
Attention to disability, work, meaning, adjustment, access, and the person-environment questions that shape well-being.
Consultation & Education
Clear public information for prospective clients, referral sources, students, and colleagues seeking an appropriate next step.
About
Dr. Aaron Mertes
Aaron is a professor of Mental Health and School Counseling at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. His clinical background includes outpatient therapy, inpatient treatment, crisis counseling, and rehabilitation counseling.
In our work together, you can expect to:
- Develop clearer language for your internal experience and relational patterns.
- Understand your protective strategies without being reduced to symptoms.
- Strengthen regulation before moving into difficult material.
- Connect insight to practical shifts in your work, relationships, and behavior.
Fees & referrals
Clear practical details before anyone has to disclose personal history.
Session Fee
$175 per session
Cash-pay rate for telehealth sessions through Smokefall Counseling. Payment is due at the time of each session.
Insurance
Accepted through Crossroads
Smokefall Counseling operates cash-pay only. To use insurance (Dean Health, Quartz, MercyCare, or Medicaid), sessions can be scheduled in person through Crossroads Counseling in Janesville, WI.
Referrals
Self-referrals welcome
Self-referrals, physician referrals, and colleague referrals are all welcome. A brief consultation helps confirm fit before scheduling.
Policies
Boundaries that make the process clearer.
Consultations
Brief consultations can clarify fit, scope of services, and next steps.
Cancellation
Please provide at least 24 hours' notice to cancel or reschedule. Appointments cancelled with less notice are subject to a $25 fee. I'm not able to send appointment reminders, so plan to manage your own schedule.
Telehealth
Telehealth is available anywhere in Wisconsin using HIPAA-compliant video platforms. You're responsible for a private, confidential space on your end; I don't currently have a dedicated in-person office, though in-person meetings can sometimes be arranged.
Communication
Email and the contact form are for scheduling and general questions. I read messages regularly but can't guarantee a fast turnaround — for anything urgent, use the crisis resources below rather than wait on a reply.
Contact
Begin with a practical question or request a consultation.
Email with a practical question, or schedule a brief consultation directly to talk through fit and next steps. If you are in crisis, call 988 or 911 rather than waiting for a reply here.