- 40 years experience
- English and Portuguese
- Collaborative approach
About Donald
Donald Bliss is a licensed clinical social worker with four decades of experience in mental health and addictions. He speaks English and Portuguese and welcomes people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship struggles, codependency concerns, grief, or life transitions. He aims to help people reconnect with what brings them meaning and satisfaction.
Don draws on a wide variety of life and work settings to shape his approach. He has worked in outpatient clinics, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, residential programs, employee assistance programs, community agencies, and nonprofit and government roles. That background informs practical, down-to-earth sessions focused on real change rather than jargon.
In session he listens for the story behind a person’s pain and then helps map small steps forward. He combines client-centered conversations with tools from cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and narrative work. Sessions often mix talk, problem solving, and experiments to try between meetings.
He also brings experience in addictions, workplace issues, parenting and blended family concerns, adoption and foster care, attachment and abandonment issues, and chronic illness. Don emphasizes collaboration - clients set goals and he helps shape ways to reach them.
Don’s training includes a master’s degree in social work with concentrations in clinical services, administration, employee assistance programs, and addictions. He describes himself as curious and well traveled, and he draws on life experience as much as formal roles when supporting people toward greater joy.
How his approaches fit into online work
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and understanding each person’s priorities. The therapist follows the client’s lead and helps them name goals and next steps, which works well for concerns like depression, grief, and relationship strain.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact. It offers concrete techniques to change unhelpful patterns and can help with anxiety, mood shifts, and coping with addictions or codependency.
Mindfulness Therapy teaches paying attention to present-moment experience with curiosity. Brief mindfulness practices can reduce reactivity and improve focus for people facing stress, chronic pain, or emotional overwhelm.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their needs, goals, and preferences. That process may combine different approaches and can change over time as progress is made.
If you are considering online therapy, check which session options the therapist currently offers before booking. Online care can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy routine, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. It can also let someone continue therapy while traveling or living outside the therapist’s immediate area.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
40+ years
Credentials
California
Languages
English, Portuguese
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Donald address in sessions?
He supports people with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, relationship and intimacy issues, codependency, grief, parenting challenges, career concerns, and coping with life changes.
How would you describe his therapy style?
He uses a conversational, client-centered style that balances listening with practical tools. Sessions blend supportive dialogue with problem solving and small experiments to try between meetings.
What kind of experience does he bring?
He has 40 years of experience across outpatient, inpatient, residential, community agency, nonprofit, and government settings, including work in addictions and employee assistance programs.
What are his credentials and where is he based?
He holds the credential LCSW and practices in California.
Which languages are offered for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and Portuguese, and international clients are accepted.
What session formats does he provide?
The original biography does not specify exact session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How are fees and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.