Richard "Rick" Dawson

Richard "Rick" Dawson is an LCSW with 33 years of clinical experience. He returned to practice after a period of retirement because he sees many people needing help. He offers a steady presence and straightforward care for people feeling overwhelmed by stress, anger, anxiety, addiction, grief, or life changes.

Rick uses clear, practical methods in sessions. He draws on approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, mindfulness techniques, and solution-focused work to address mood, panic, and relationship concerns. In conversation he helps people notice unhelpful patterns and test small changes that can make a day easier.

His background includes inpatient and outpatient work, group and individual therapy, hospice, and a long period in private practice in Oregon. That breadth means he is comfortable supporting people through crises and slower, steady change alike. He has worked with substance use issues, sleep problems, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and compassion fatigue among other concerns.

In sessions he aims to build a practical partnership. He listens without judgment and helps set reasonable goals. Techniques may include breath-based mindfulness, practical behavioral experiments, skills for intense emotions, and short-term problem solving.

Rick encourages people to take the first step when they feel ready. He invites a conversation about current struggles, what has already been tried, and small next steps toward more manageable days.

Therapeutic approaches and how they work online

Rick frequently uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy in his work. CBT focuses on identifying and testing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can help with anxiety, depression, panic, and sleep problems. DBT teaches skills for managing intense emotions and improving distress tolerance, which is useful for anger, mood swings, and relationship stress.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. He will collaborate with each person to pick methods that match their goals and preferences, adjusting as progress is made. That means trying practical tools, tracking what helps, and shifting emphasis when needed.

If you are considering online sessions, confirm the current session options before booking since formats are not specified in the biography. Online work can make therapy easier to fit into busy days, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. It can also let someone use phone-only conversations when bandwidth is low or choose a session style that feels less demanding on a given day. Licensed professionals guide how to adapt CBT and DBT skills for use between sessions so progress continues outside meetings.