- Stress and anxiety
- Trauma informed work
- CBT and solution focus
About Donald
Donald Mattson is an LPC - Licensed Professional Counselor in Michigan with 20 years of experience. He works with adults who face stress, anxiety, trauma, mood difficulties, and life transitions. He also addresses related concerns such as panic, obsessive thoughts, and seasonal mood shifts.
His style is direct and practical. Sessions include clear, real-world strategies drawn from cognitive behavioral techniques and solution-focused steps. He also uses psychodynamic ideas to look at longer-standing patterns and trauma-focused methods when past events are part of current problems.
Clients can expect straightforward conversation and concrete tools to try between sessions. He emphasizes small changes that fit daily life rather than abstract theories. He also draws on expressive arts ideas in some work, and he has published articles and a book on anxiety tools.
In the room he helps people identify what keeps them stuck and then builds on strengths to create manageable plans. He talks through specific skills for panic, obsessive thinking, and mood regulation. He also helps people facing caregiver strain, control struggles, feelings of emptiness, and midlife questions.
Donald encourages starting from wherever someone is comfortable. Early work focuses on simple, testable steps and on deciding together what approach fits best. Over time the work can move into deeper patterns or stay focused on practical problem solving depending on the client's goals.
How his approaches translate to online sessions
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and responding to what matters most to the client, helping shape goals based on the person's concerns and preferences. It supports work on stress, loneliness, and life purpose by centering the client's experience rather than imposing a fixed plan.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and then tests small changes. It is used for anxiety, panic attacks, obsessive thinking, and mood symptoms through skill practice and short experiments that can be tracked between sessions.
Trauma-Focused Therapy pays attention to how past events affect current reactions and uses methods to reduce trauma-related distress over time. It can include pacing, grounding techniques, and careful processing when the client feels ready.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. He collaborates with each person to decide whether to focus on skills-based CBT, deeper psychodynamic themes, or trauma-focused strategies. That choice evolves based on goals, what feels helpful, and how a person responds to early steps.
Session formats are not specified in the provided biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into weekday schedules, allow for shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time, which helps maintain momentum while testing new skills in daily life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
Michigan, Wisconsin
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does he work with?
He works with stress, anxiety, trauma and mood difficulties, including panic, obsessive-compulsive problems, and post-traumatic stress.
What is his general therapy style?
He uses a straightforward, practical approach that mixes conversation with concrete tools and exercises to try between sessions.
How much experience does he have?
He has 20 years of clinical experience as a licensed professional counselor.
Where is he licensed and based?
He is an LPC licensed in Michigan and practices from that state.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the US work with him?
He does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for?
Cost varies by location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What do I do to begin?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.