- CBT techniques
- DBT skills
- Mindfulness practice
About Dawn
Dawn Dougherty is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in California with 30 years of clinical experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting strain, LGBT concerns, and challenges around self-esteem and life changes. She also supports those dealing with burnout and compassion fatigue as well as more specific issues like attachment and abandonment concerns.
Dawn keeps sessions direct and practical. She listens for how guilt or shame show up in daily life and helps people name the thoughts and behaviors that keep those feelings active. She uses talk, breathing and mindfulness practices to help interrupt painful patterns and bring more choice into difficult moments.
Her approach blends client-centered conversation with evidence-based tools. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is used to notice and shift unhelpful thinking. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills are used for emotion regulation and tolerating distress.
Dawn’s background includes training as a yoga and meditation instructor. That experience informs the ways she teaches grounding and present-moment tools in session. She offers practical exercises people can use between meetings to steady mood and attention.
People meet with Dawn to sort through guilt, shame, and complicated feelings from family, faith, and relationships. She works collaboratively to set goals, try new approaches, and build skills that fit everyday life.
How her approaches translate to online work
Dawn often uses Client-Centered Therapy to focus on what matters most to the person in front of her. That means conversations stay focused on a client's immediate concerns and goals, and the therapist follows the client's priorities to shape each session.She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills. CBT helps people notice and test the thoughts that fuel guilt and shame. DBT offers concrete tools for regulating strong emotions and coping with distressing memories or urges.
Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work she does with clients. She will help identify which methods fit a person's needs, goals, and preferences and adjust approaches as those needs change. This is a collaborative process rather than a fixed plan.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm the available options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy week, reduce travel time, or pick a shorter check-in when days are tight. It can also allow for using guided mindfulness or breathing exercises during a session, and for practicing skills between meetings.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
30+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address related to guilt or shame?
She works with people carrying guilt and shame tied to relationships, family, faith, parenting, identity, and past trauma.
How does she approach guilt and shame in sessions?
She identifies the thoughts and actions that keep those feelings in place and uses conversation, mindfulness, and practical exercises to create different responses.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 30 years of professional experience as a clinician in California.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, practicing in California.
Does she work with non-English speakers or international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients.
What session formats are offered?
Please confirm current session options before booking, as the biography does not list specific formats.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.