Richard "Rick" Dawson , LCSW

Richard "Rick" Dawson is an Oregon-licensed LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) with 33 years of professional experience who returned to practice after a period of retirement. He decided to resume clinical work in 2023, driven by a long-standing passion for helping people and a recognition of growing demand for therapeutic support.

His counseling career began in 1992 after a prior life as a working musician, and he has worked across inpatient and outpatient settings providing individual, family, and group therapy. Early work included an inpatient psychiatric department in a general hospital where he practiced while completing his counseling degree, followed by roughly 15 years focused on inpatient care. He launched a private practice in 2004 and has since worked in a variety of environments including a stand-alone psychiatric hospital, community mental health, hospice care, and outpatient family medical clinic settings in suburban Portland.

Dawson has experience supporting men and women of all ages with depression, stress and anxiety, addictions, relationship challenges, grief and loss, trauma, sleep problems, parenting concerns, and other life changes. He emphasizes a nonjudgmental, collaborative therapeutic partnership that centers problem solving and practical steps toward a more rewarding and fulfilling life. He frames the first step toward change as an act of courage and offers steady support throughout the process.

Practical therapeutic approaches for online care

Richard "Rick" Dawson uses several evidence-informed approaches that translate well to remote work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors; it is often used for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and stress by teaching concrete skills and practical strategies. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) blends skill-building in emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness; it can be helpful for intense emotions, relationship struggles, and coping with crises. Mindfulness Therapy encourages present-moment awareness and gentle acceptance of experience, supporting reductions in rumination, improved stress management, and greater emotional balance.

Finding the right approach is part of the collaborative process. As an LCSW, Richard "Rick" Dawson works with each person to assess needs, goals, and preferences, and he tailors or combines methods so the plan fits the individual rather than forcing a single model.

Online therapy offers practical benefits such as flexibility in scheduling and the ability to meet from home or another convenient location. Video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging provide multiple ways to stay connected between sessions and to engage in therapy in ways that fit a person’s daily life and responsibilities.