- Work and wellbeing
- Stress and anxiety
- Trauma recovery
About Donald
Donald Mattson is a licensed professional counselor with twenty years of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, trauma, and mood challenges. He works with adults who are coping with heavy stress, panic, intrusive thoughts, and recovery from difficult events. He writes plainly and aims to make sessions feel practical and direct.
His style is straightforward, honest, and sometimes playful. He uses tools from cognitive behavioral work, solution-focused methods, psychodynamic ideas, and trauma-focused care to match what each person needs. Sessions focus on identifying what keeps a person stuck, noticing strengths, and building small, useful strategies for day-to-day life.
Donald also pays attention to how feelings show up in the body and how patterns from the past affect present choices. He aims to translate clinical ideas into simple steps that can be tried between sessions. This often means practicing new skills and checking what works in real life.
He has written journal articles about expressive arts and has a book on anxiety tools forthcoming. That background influences how he blends practical techniques with creative ways to understand emotions.
If someone feels overwhelmed by work stress, midlife questions, caregiver strain, or persistent shame or guilt, sessions start from where the person is now. The goal is to build manageable routines and clearer thinking so days feel more bearable and purposeful.
How Donald’s approaches translate to online therapy
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening, empathy, and shaping sessions around what matters most to the person. It helps people who want a respectful space to talk through stress, life purpose, and feelings of emptiness.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches clear skills to notice unhelpful thoughts and try different behaviors. It is often used for anxiety, panic, obsessive thinking, and mood concerns because it produces practical steps to test between sessions.
Trauma-Focused Therapy pays attention to how past events continue to affect daily life and offers structured ways to reduce their hold. This approach can help people working through post-traumatic stress or recovery after abuse.
Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will listen to the person's goals, try methods that fit those goals, and adjust strategies based on what helps. This is a collaborative process rather than a one-size-fits-all plan.
Session formats are not specified in the supplied biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. A therapist can also suggest homework, brief exercises, and focused tools that fit into daily life regardless of how sessions are scheduled.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Credentials
Michigan, Wisconsin
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does this therapist address?
Donald focuses on stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, and related concerns such as caregiver stress, control issues, emptiness, and mood disorders.
How would you describe the therapeutic approach?
He blends client-centered, cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic, solution-focused, and trauma-focused approaches to match practical tools to each person's needs.
What is his background and experience?
He has twenty years of experience working with adults on anxiety, trauma, mood challenges, and life transitions, and has published journal articles in expressive arts.
What credentials and location are listed for this clinician?
He is an LPC, holding Michigan LPC and Wisconsin LPC credentials, and is based in Michigan.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Are international clients supported?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are fees and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What steps are involved to begin working together?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling according to the therapist's availability.