- Focus on thoughts
- Practical coping skills
- Values-based change
About Doris
Doris Gardner-Wilson is a licensed clinical social worker in Texas who helps people manage stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship struggles, trauma, and grief. She focuses on everyday thoughts and habits that keep problems going. Doris aims to create a space where clients can talk about feelings and patterns without feeling judged. She encourages small steps toward clearer goals and better daily routines.
With 25 years of experience as an LCSW, she draws on several practical approaches to guide sessions. Doris uses cognitive behavioral strategies to spot unhelpful thinking and make concrete changes. She also uses acceptance and commitment techniques to help people clarify values and take meaningful action.
Her style is straightforward and client-centered. Sessions are collaborative and paced to each person’s needs, with attention to coping skills for anxiety, mood swings, and addictive behaviors. She helps people work through intimacy concerns, communication problems, and the fallout from trauma or narcissistic abuse.
Doris also addresses complex issues like bipolar disorder, chronic pain and illness, caregiver stress, and challenges linked to attachment or avoidance. She supports people dealing with body image, commitment worries, and blended family dynamics. Practical problem solving and habit-level changes are common parts of her work.
People typically start by clarifying what matters to them and choosing small, doable changes. Doris encourages honest conversation and steady progress toward a calmer, more manageable life.
With 25 years of experience as an LCSW, she draws on several practical approaches to guide sessions. Doris uses cognitive behavioral strategies to spot unhelpful thinking and make concrete changes. She also uses acceptance and commitment techniques to help people clarify values and take meaningful action.
Her style is straightforward and client-centered. Sessions are collaborative and paced to each person’s needs, with attention to coping skills for anxiety, mood swings, and addictive behaviors. She helps people work through intimacy concerns, communication problems, and the fallout from trauma or narcissistic abuse.
Doris also addresses complex issues like bipolar disorder, chronic pain and illness, caregiver stress, and challenges linked to attachment or avoidance. She supports people dealing with body image, commitment worries, and blended family dynamics. Practical problem solving and habit-level changes are common parts of her work.
People typically start by clarifying what matters to them and choosing small, doable changes. Doris encourages honest conversation and steady progress toward a calmer, more manageable life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Family conflictsIntimacy-related issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderDepressionCoping with life changes
Additional focus areas
AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeAvoidant personalityBDSM, kink, and alternative sex cultureBlended family issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)DissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMen's issuesVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPhobiasPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Self-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseSexual dysfunctionSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyEye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Gottman MethodImago Relationship TherapyJungian TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems
Experience
25+ years
Credentials
Texas
Languages
English
How therapeutic approaches shape online work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice thoughts without getting swept up in them, identify what matters, and take small steps toward those values. It is useful for anxiety, depression, and motivation struggles. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches concrete exercises to change unhelpful patterns, which can help with anxiety, low mood, and habits tied to addiction.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose methods that fit their goals and day-to-day life. That means trying techniques, checking what helps, and adjusting the plan together rather than sticking to one fixed method.
Confirm the current session options before booking so you know how sessions will be arranged. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules and reduce time spent traveling. It can also allow shorter check-ins when that suits the week, or let someone avoid being on camera if they prefer a different way to connect. Talk with the therapist about what will work best for your routine and goals.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Doris commonly address?
She supports people working with stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship and intimacy issues, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, bipolar symptoms, anger, and self-esteem struggles.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is client-centered and straightforward, with an emphasis on talking through thoughts and building everyday habits that reduce distress.
What kind of experience does she bring?
She has 25 years of experience as a clinician, using practical strategies for coping with mood challenges, addictive behaviors, and relationship problems.
What credentials and region apply to her practice?
She is an LCSW licensed in Texas and maintains her practice in that state.
Do sessions take place in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people from other countries work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions scheduled and paid for?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin therapy?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.