About Richard
Richard "Rick" Dawson is a licensed clinical social worker with 33 years of practice experience. He returns to therapy after retirement because helping people has long been his passion. Rick works from a calm, practical stance to help people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and addictions.
He has broad experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings. That work included individual and group therapy as well as roles in hospital and clinic settings.
Background and approach
He also ran a independent practice beginning in 2004. Rick uses straightforward, skills-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. He also incorporates mindfulness and solution-focused methods to help people change unhelpful patterns and build coping skills.
In sessions he focuses on building a collaborative relationship. He encourages open conversation about feelings and thoughts without judgment. Together he and the client identify practical steps to reduce symptoms and improve daily functioning.
His clinical areas include grief, relationship concerns, sleep problems, parenting stress, anger, self-esteem, career issues, bipolar mood concerns, ADHD, and trauma-related difficulties. He also helps people struggling with panic, social anxiety, isolation, guilt, and shame. Rick sees clients in Oregon and offers a mix of session formats to fit different needs.
He aims to support people through life changes and to help them find clearer ways to cope and move forward.
How evidence-based approaches translate to online sessions
CBT, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and changing behaviors that keep problems going. It is often used for anxiety, panic, depression, and sleep problems and teaches concrete strategies to manage symptoms.DBT, or Dialectical Behavior Therapy, emphasizes skills for managing intense emotions and improving relationships. It includes strategies for distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and better interpersonal interactions, which can help with anger, self-harm urges, and mood swings.
Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals and preferences and then recommend a mix of strategies. This collaborative process can change over time as needs shift.
Online therapy offers ways to fit sessions into busy lives. Video calls let people use visual cues and hold fuller conversations. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited. Live chat or text-based messaging is useful for brief check-ins, homework support, or when someone prefers typed communication. These options make it easier to practice skills between sessions and keep consistent contact with licensed professionals.
Questions people ask
What concerns does he help with?
What is his therapeutic style?
How long has he been practicing?
What credentials and region are listed?
Which languages are supported?
What session formats are available?
How does pricing work?
How do I begin working with him?
What this therapist works with
Most often
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
Also listed
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Mood disorders
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Parenting issues
- Self esteem
- Sleeping disorders
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Trauma and abuse
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 33 years
- Licensed
- Oregon
- Languages
- English
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