Ryan Dawson (He/Him)

My Approach to Helping

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Portland Oregon and have thirteen years experience working with people who struggle with symptoms of mental illness, alcohol and drug use, family and relationship troubles, chronic illness, complications of grief & loss, and other life challenging situations. I have a Masters of Social Work with a Minor in Mental Health & Chemical Dependency from Eastern Michigan University with expertise using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness practice and Motivational Interviewing (MI) to help clients work through difficult issues and to produce change. When working with clients, I believe it’s essential to develop a solid connection using a person-centered approach, meeting someone where they’re at, and providing a compassionate, honest and safe place to discuss what’s going on in their life.

Why I Became a Therapist

I was introduced to a counselor when I was in high school that impacted my life and helped me get through a very difficult time. Learning the attributes of healthy relationships, developing coping skills, and learning how to evaluate my decisions dynamically affected the course of my life and eventually led me to pursue a career helping others.