- Practical problem solving
- Focus on sleep and rest
- Mindful coping skills
About Richard
Richard "Rick" Dawson is a licensed clinical social worker with 33 years of experience. He returned to practice after retirement because helping people has long been his passion. He works to build a straightforward, nonjudgmental partnership that focuses on real problems and practical steps forward.
Rick uses clear, down-to-earth conversation to help people manage stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addictions, and sleep difficulties. He draws on experience from inpatient and outpatient settings and from years running individual and group work. Sessions aim to identify what is getting in the way and find doable changes clients can try between meetings.
His background includes many years in hospital-based inpatient care, community mental health, hospice, and private practice in Oregon. That range of settings shaped a practical approach to problems like relationship strain, parenting stress, anger, and work-related burnout. He also supports people facing mood swings, panic, social anxiety, and the special challenges of ADHD and compassion fatigue.
In sessions Rick combines structured techniques with mindful awareness and short-term problem solving. He often uses methods from cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy alongside mindfulness and solution-focused ideas. The goal is to help clients change unhelpful patterns, manage strong emotions, and get better sleep when that is a concern.
Rick invites people to take the first step by sharing their story and goals. He aims to make the process simple and collaborative, so clients and he can decide together what will help most.
Approaches to help you sleep and manage strong emotions
Richard often uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviors that interfere with mood and sleep. CBT breaks problems into small parts and teaches practical skills to change routines and reactions.He also works with dialectical behavior therapy ideas to teach emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. Those skills can help when overwhelming feelings or relationship conflict make rest difficult. Mindfulness techniques are used alongside these methods to build awareness of the body and mind and reduce rumination.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to pick techniques that match their goals, needs, and daily life. This is a joint process that may change as progress is made.
Confirm the session formats available before booking, since the biography does not specify which online options are offered. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. It also lets people use tools like guided exercises and homework between sessions to reinforce changes and improve sleep habits.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
33+ years
Credentials
Oregon
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does he commonly address?
Rick helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addictions, relationship strain, sleep issues, and parenting pressures, plus related concerns like anger, low self-esteem, and loneliness.
How would you describe his therapeutic style?
He uses a practical, down-to-earth approach that blends structured techniques and mindful awareness. Sessions focus on identifying problems and trying manageable changes between meetings.
What kind of experience does he bring?
He has 33 years of professional experience across inpatient and outpatient care, group and individual therapy, hospice, community mental health, and private practice.
What credentials and region apply to this therapist?
He holds an LCSW, which is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and maintains practice in Oregon.
Which languages are supported and can international clients sign up?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
The biography does not list specific session formats. Please confirm current session options before booking.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.