Donald Bliss, LCSW

Donald Bliss is a licensed clinical social worker with over 40 years in mental health and addictions work. He speaks English and Portuguese and draws on a long career in a wide range of settings. He aims to help people reduce anxiety, handle stress, and rebuild connection after loss or relationship strain.

He uses practical, talk-based work to help people change habits that get in the way of daily life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the approaches he uses to identify unhelpful thoughts and try different behaviors. He also brings client-centered listening and mindfulness practices to help people feel less overwhelmed in the moment.

His background includes outpatient and inpatient care, residential programs, community agencies, employee assistance programs, and nonprofit and government roles. That variety informs how he shapes treatment plans and problem-solving for common concerns like addiction, depression, grief, and parenting stress.

Donald emphasizes collaboration. He helps people set clear, realistic goals and works at a pace that fits their lives. Sessions often include concrete strategies, exercises to try between meetings, and space to talk through emotions and relationship patterns.

People often come for help with communication problems, codependency, commitment issues, and coping with life changes. He also supports those facing attachment concerns, blended family stress, chronic illness, and career transitions. His long experience includes work with LGBTQ people and issues related to sex and sexuality.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Donald frequently uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people spot unhelpful thoughts and try different behaviors. CBT often includes clear steps and homework tasks useful for anxiety, depression, and addiction-related changes. He also draws on Client-Centered Therapy, which focuses on listening closely and following the person's lead to build trust and clarity.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. He will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and life demands, and then suggest methods to try. That collaborative process makes it easier to adjust focus as needs change over time.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different schedules and needs. Video is good for face-to-face conversation and learning skills together. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and messaging let people send brief updates or use therapy in between scheduled sessions. These options offer flexibility for people balancing work, parenting, or travel while working on change.