- Client-centered approach
- Thoughts and habits
- Speaks Portuguese
About Donald
Donald Bliss is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with four decades of experience in mental health and addictions work. He speaks English and Portuguese and enjoys getting to know people and their life stories. He wants to help clients find what brings them joy and move toward those changes at a comfortable pace.
He trained in social work at both the bachelor and master levels, with early study focused on child and adolescent welfare and later concentrations in employee assistance programs and addictions. His career has covered nonprofit work, government agencies, outpatient clinics, inpatient hospitals, residential programs, and employee assistance settings. He has also volunteered and lived in several countries, which informs his intercultural perspective.
In sessions he draws on client-centered methods and conversational, down-to-earth problem solving. He uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ideas to address unhelpful thinking and habits, and he brings mindfulness and narrative approaches to help people notice patterns and rewrite challenging life stories. Motivational Interviewing informs his work around changes people want to make, including substance use concerns.
Donald has experience with a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting, grief, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, career struggles, bipolar disorder, and coping with life changes. He also has added focus on adoption and foster care, attachment and abandonment issues, blended family dynamics, chronic illness and pain, and codependency.
He describes his role as supportive, encouraging, and at times challenging, helping people discover options for thinking, feeling, and acting differently. To begin, readers should use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.
He trained in social work at both the bachelor and master levels, with early study focused on child and adolescent welfare and later concentrations in employee assistance programs and addictions. His career has covered nonprofit work, government agencies, outpatient clinics, inpatient hospitals, residential programs, and employee assistance settings. He has also volunteered and lived in several countries, which informs his intercultural perspective.
In sessions he draws on client-centered methods and conversational, down-to-earth problem solving. He uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ideas to address unhelpful thinking and habits, and he brings mindfulness and narrative approaches to help people notice patterns and rewrite challenging life stories. Motivational Interviewing informs his work around changes people want to make, including substance use concerns.
Donald has experience with a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting, grief, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, career struggles, bipolar disorder, and coping with life changes. He also has added focus on adoption and foster care, attachment and abandonment issues, blended family dynamics, chronic illness and pain, and codependency.
He describes his role as supportive, encouraging, and at times challenging, helping people discover options for thinking, feeling, and acting differently. To begin, readers should use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Family conflictsTrauma and abuseGriefIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoaching
Additional focus areas
AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAttachment issuesAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDependent personalityDivorce and separationDrug and alcohol addictionEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHIV / AIDSHospice and end-of-life counselingImmigration issuesImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPersonality disordersPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Self-loveSex addictionSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused Therapy
Experience
40+ years
Credentials
California
Languages
English, Portuguese
How his approaches translate to online therapy
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and responding to each person's needs, helping people feel heard and supported while they set their own goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts and everyday habits affect mood and behavior, offering practical tools to change unhelpful patterns. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices that can reduce reactivity and increase awareness of feelings and urges.Deciding which approach to use is collaborative. He will talk with each client about their goals and preferences and adapt methods over time. Many people benefit from combining elements of these approaches rather than using a single technique alone.
Confirm the specific session options before booking to know which online formats are available. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life - it can save travel time, allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight, and let people meet with a therapist from different locations, including international ones. Ask about the session rhythm and format when scheduling so you can pick what best fits your routine.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does he commonly address?
He works with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting and grief, among other concerns listed in his specialties.
How would you describe his therapeutic style?
He takes a conversational, client-centered approach that combines practical problem solving with attention to thoughts, habits, and personal stories.
What kind of experience does he bring?
He has 40 years of experience in direct services, program management, and a variety of clinical settings across public and nonprofit sectors.
What are his credentials and where is he based?
He holds the LCSW credential and practices from California.
Does he offer sessions in other languages?
Sessions are offered in English and Portuguese.
Can people outside the U.S. work with him?
He accepts international clients, so people outside the United States can connect for services.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin therapy?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions based on the therapist's availability.