Dawn Whitehead, LMHC

Dawn Whitehead is a licensed mental health counselor with nearly 20 years of experience helping people reduce stress and manage anxiety. She practices in Rhode Island and works with adults on mood, trauma, grief, and concerns tied to LGBT identity. Dawn uses straightforward language and practical skills so people can try changes between sessions.

She often draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients spot unhelpful thoughts and change patterns of behavior. Dawn also uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills and mindfulness tools when emotions feel intense or when people need better coping strategies. She adapts the approach to match each person's goals and daily life.

Many people come for help with depression, anger, panic, or mood disorders. She also supports work on body image, self-esteem, obsessive-compulsive patterns, and issues around gender dysphoria and non-monogamous relationships. Trauma-focused methods are offered when past events continue to cause distress.

Dawn emphasizes respect, sensitivity, and compassion in sessions. She teaches concrete skills like emotion regulation, grounding, and problem-focused planning. Sessions aim to be collaborative so clients leave with steps they can use right away.

Therapy can include short practical assignments, skills practice, and regular check-ins on progress. Dawn encourages people to move at their own pace while strengthening tools for coping with life changes and difficult feelings.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Many people benefit from learning concrete skills they can use day to day. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps by identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors to reduce anxiety and low mood. Dialectical Behavior Therapy supplies emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal skills for intense feelings and relationship strains.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Dawn will collaborate with each person to choose which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences. That might mean mixing CBT thought work with DBT skills or using trauma-focused techniques when past events are central to current symptoms.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy more flexible. Video lets people use visual cues for skills coaching while phone calls can fit a work break or require less bandwidth. Live chat and text are helpful for brief check-ins, skill reminders, or when typing feels easier than speaking. These options support consistent care while fitting therapy into a busy life.