- 33 years experience
- Practical coping tools
- Warm nonjudgmental care
About Richard
Richard "Rick" Dawson is a licensed clinical social worker who draws on 33 years of practice to help people manage anxiety, stress, and life’s harder turns. He returned to seeing clients after retirement because helping others is his longtime passion. He works to create a warm, nonjudgmental space where people can talk about what matters to them.
Rick has experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings and has run group and individual therapy. He began his counseling career in 1992 after earlier years working as a musician, and has since worked in hospital psychiatric units, a stand-alone psychiatric hospital, community mental health, hospice, and private practice in Oregon.
In session he focuses on practical problem solving and building a working partnership. He uses approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness to help people notice unhelpful patterns and try different coping steps. He also draws on dialectical behavior therapy and solution-focused methods when clients want tools for emotion regulation and clear short-term goals.
Areas Rick supports include anxiety and panic, depression, addictions, grief, relationship and intimacy concerns, sleep problems, parenting stress, anger, self-esteem, ADHD, and coping with life changes. He also addresses issues of guilt, shame, isolation, and social anxiety.
He practices in Oregon and holds an LCSW, which stands for Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Sessions are conducted in English and he does not take international clients at this time. If you want to explore working together, he encourages starting with a short matching questionnaire to find a good fit.
How Rick Brings CBT and Mindfulness Online
Rick commonly uses cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness therapy in his work. CBT helps people spot thought and behavior patterns that keep problems going and then test small behavior changes to see what helps. Mindfulness therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices to reduce reactivity and improve day-to-day coping.Finding the right approach is part of the process. Rick aims to work collaboratively, reviewing your needs and goals and choosing techniques that feel most useful. He adjusts tools and steps as you try them together so the approach matches your situation and preferences.
The biography does not list specific online session formats, so please confirm current options before booking. In general, online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, letting people schedule sessions around work, family, or appointments. Some formats are better for brief check-ins while others suit longer skill-building sessions; discuss practical scheduling and session length when you first connect so arrangements fit your routine.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
33+ years
Listed in
Oregon
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does he help with?
He works with a wide range of concerns including anxiety, panic disorder and panic attacks, depression, addictions, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, sleep problems, ADHD, and coping with life changes.
What is his general therapy style?
His style is practical and collaborative, focusing on problem solving and skill building while keeping a warm, nonjudgmental tone.
How long has he been practicing?
He has 33 years of professional experience, including inpatient and outpatient work, group and individual therapy, and long-standing private practice work in Oregon.
What credentials and location are listed?
He holds an LCSW, which means Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and practices in Oregon.
Which languages are offered for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does he work with clients outside the United States?
He is not currently accepting international clients.
How are sessions scheduled and what formats are used?
The original biography does not list specific session formats, so please confirm current session options before booking.
How does payment or cost work?
Cost varies by location and therapist arrangement; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.