- CBT focused
- Mindfulness informed
- Trauma aware
About Richard
Richard Watson, LCPC, focuses on practical approaches that help people manage mood, substance use, and stress. He believes clients are the experts on their own lives and works alongside them to set achievable goals. Sessions are direct and honest, with an emphasis on building trust and doing hands-on work rather than long talks that go nowhere.
Richard uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and mindfulness strategies to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and change day-to-day habits. He encourages small experiments in thinking and behavior so progress can be measured and adjusted. Many of his clients bring issues like anxiety, depression, or problems with alcohol and drugs.
He brings a trauma-informed attitude to sessions, which means he pays attention to how past events and resilience shape present reactions. He asks about a person’s history and current strengths before suggesting strategies. This helps tailor concrete steps that feel doable in everyday life.
People often seek him out for stress, sleep trouble, grief, relationship strain, and challenges related to ADHD or chronic overwhelm. He also lists coping with natural or human-caused disaster among his focus areas, and can talk through responses to crisis-related stress.
Richard has nine years of clinical experience and holds an Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor credential. He offers therapy in English and accepts international clients. To begin, people complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule sessions according to availability.
How ACT, CBT, and Mindfulness translate to online therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people name their values and commit to small actions that match those values. In practice this looks like setting simple goals and learning to live with uncomfortable feelings while still moving toward what matters. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing them with short behavioral experiments. Clients learn to change patterns that feed anxiety, depression, or substance use. Mindfulness Therapy teaches present-moment awareness and simple exercises to reduce reactivity and improve sleep and attention.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the client about their goals and try different methods to see what fits. This is a collaborative process that adjusts over time based on what helps the person make concrete progress.
Confirm the specific session formats before booking, since the profile does not list them. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove the time spent traveling to appointments. It also lets people practice skills in the settings where problems occur, so techniques learned in sessions can be tested in real life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
9+ years
Credentials
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does Richard help with?
He helps people facing anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma, grief, sleep trouble, and stress related to life changes and caregiving.
What is his general therapy style?
His style is collaborative and straightforward, blending Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and mindfulness techniques to change thinking and behavior.
How much clinical experience does he have?
He brings nine years of experience working with mood disorders and substance use concerns while using a trauma-informed perspective.
Where is he licensed and located?
He holds an Illinois LCPC credential and practices from Illinois.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English, and he also accepts international clients.
What session formats are available?
Please confirm current session options before booking, as formats are not specified in the profile.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.