About Dawn
Dawn Dougherty is a licensed clinical social worker with 30 years of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship problems, trauma, and identity concerns. She creates an affirming, calm space where people can talk about tough feelings and figure out practical next steps. Dawn focuses on real-life struggles like parenting strain, career stress, coping with change, and compassion fatigue.
She also addresses issues related to adoption and foster care, attachment and abandonment, blended family concerns, and caregiver stress.
How Dawn works
Her work includes support around bipolar disorder, communication problems, codependency, and recovery from domestic violence. Her approach is person-centered and collaborative. She listens for what matters most to each person, then blends emotional support with tools to manage symptoms and behavior.
She uses methods that include cognitive behavioral techniques, dialectical behavior strategies, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing to build coping skills. With a background as a yoga and meditation instructor, Dawn often offers mindfulness practices and breathing exercises during sessions when helpful. She aims to make sessions practical and easy to use between meetings so people can apply what they learn to daily life.
Dawn practices in California and works by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging. She holds a California LCSW credential and brings long experience to clients balancing life transitions and emotional recovery.
Dawn lists 8 ways of working on the entry:
What Dawn works with
The areas below are the ones Dawn selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
Also listed
- Abandonment
- Adoption and foster care
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Avoidant personality
- Bipolar disorder
- Blended family issues
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Dependent personality
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Family conflicts
- Family problems
- Fertility issues
- Forgiveness
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- LGBT
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Parenting issues
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexuality
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Workplace issues
Training and background
| Register | LCSW |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 30 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | California |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
Practical approaches for online therapy
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and understanding each person's experience. The therapist offers empathy and supports people as they set goals and choose ways to change their life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, helps people identify unhelpful thoughts and change the behaviors that keep problems going; it is useful for anxiety, depression, and stress. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, teaches concrete skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and better communication; it can help when emotions feel overwhelming.Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Dawn will talk with the person about their goals, preferences, and day-to-day needs. She combines elements from different approaches when that best fits the situation, and checks in regularly to adjust the plan based on progress.
Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy more flexible. Video is useful for a full session with face-to-face interaction. Phone works well when bandwidth is limited or when someone prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and text messaging offer shorter check-ins and an option for people who like writing their thoughts. These formats make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules and stay connected between appointments.
Start online instead of waiting
Our partner service asks a few questions about what you are looking for and matches you with a therapist for sessions from home.
Book with DawnWe will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you.
Common questions
What concerns does Dawn help with?
What is her therapeutic style like?
How much experience does she have?
What credential and location information is available?
Which languages and international options are supported?
What session formats are offered?
How is cost handled?
How do I begin working with her?
A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
We will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you. Entries are not assessed or endorsed by this directory.
Other entries for stress, anxiety
Supportive LCSW helping people build strength and clarity
Practical, trauma-aware therapy for everyday life
Practical, relational therapy for life transitions