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Donald Bliss, LCSW

Experienced mental health professional

Provides online counseling through BetterHelp

At a glance

Donald is an experienced, licensed Mental Health Professional who specializes in affordable online therapy offered through our partner, BetterHelp.

5.0 stars
Clients are very satisfied with Donald. View 1 review
Speaks English and Portuguese
Offers Telehealth visits
Licensed in California

Recent reviews

Expert, sound advice, warm soul and challenges / pushes you to question the norm. Would highly recommend

Reviewed May 2022

More about Donald

  • 30 years' experience
  • Male
  • LCSW

(Falo português também.)

Hello, my name is Don. I have both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in Social Work, and I have over forty years of experience in the field of mental health and addictions treatment, both in direct services and in program management -- even longer if you count the foster children I grew up with and the community work that I did as a teenager.

I am endlessly curious and have lived abroad in Africa and South America, and in the North, South, East and West of the United States, and am fluent in Portuguese and have studied a few other languages. I love meeting people and learning their stories, and helping my clients find their joy again -- or to find it for what might be the first time. I believe in doing my part to make this a world that works for everyone, and doing what I can to help my clients feel happy and satisfied in their lives.

Throughout the years I have been employed or volunteered in private and public-benefit ("non-profit") corporations and in government agencies, and have worked in various clinical settings ranging from outpatient treatment facilities and private practice to inpatient psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment centers, community agencies and employee assistance programs.

I have worked in direct services as well as case management and program management, design and evaluation. My experience encompasses an incredibly diverse range of client populations and problems, and includes individual, couple, family and group psychotherapy. My areas of clinical expertise include but are not limited to: relationship and family issues; brief, solution-focused therapy; workplace and organizational issues; addictions and unhealthy dependencies; cross-cultural communications and relations; sex and sexuality; and HIV/AIDS (and chronic illness).

My Bachelor of Social Work degree is from George Williams College, now part of Aurora University, and I earned a Certificate in International/Intercultural Studies during those studies as well. My master's degree is from the University of Maryland at Baltimore, one of the largest schools of Social Work in the country. I am a firm believer in life-long professional development and have attended countless conferences and continuing education programs, and continue to do so. I have also served on several non-profit and government planning boards, and have managed a number of programs in the public-benefit sector. In addition, I help facilitate personal/spiritual growth trainings, and have published guest and relationship advice columns in newspapers and magazines. My educational and professional experiences have been broad and wide-ranging, but beyond that I have extensive life experience which I consider equally significant in terms of how it informs my approach with clients.

As a therapist, my goal is to support, encourage and challenge you to find your joy. Your life is your own and you have your own dreams, wishes and desires. I want to help you achieve them, and to assist you in taking whatever positive steps it takes for you to get there. I don't believe that there is any particular road that you have to take to get there, as people are not made from cookie-cutters and what works for one person might not work for another. Therefore, my pledge is to help you find your path to happiness and contentment, and to explore with you new options for thinking, feeling, doing or being along the way.

Thank you!

Specialties

Addictions LGBT Relationship issues Self esteem Depression Abandonment Attachment issues Avoidant personality Blended family issues Chronic pain, illness, and disability Codependency Commitment issues Communication problems Control issues Dependent personality Divorce and separation Drug and alcohol addiction Emptiness Family of origin issues Family problems Forgiveness Gender dysphoria Guilt and shame HIV / AIDS Hospice and end-of-life counseling Immigration issues Impulsivity Infidelity Isolation / loneliness Jealousy Life purpose Men's issues Midlife crisis Money and financial issues Mood disorders Multicultural concerns Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD Personality disorders Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships Prejudice and discrimination Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling) Self-love Sex addiction Sexuality Social anxiety and phobia Workplace issues Young adult issues

Treatment Approaches

  • Client-Centered Therapy
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Existential Therapy
  • Mindfulness Therapy
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Narrative Therapy
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Solution-Focused Therapy

Licenses

Donald Bliss's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1730454661.

  • LCSW · California · 22042 · Expires June 2025

About online counseling

Affordable.
Pay a low flat fee.
Convenient.
Do it at your own time and at your own pace. Communicate whenever you feel it's needed.
Available now.
There is no waiting list and no calls to make. Simply fill out a short questionnaire and send your first message.

Online counseling allows you to receive care from a mental health practitioner via phone, video chat, or instant messaging. It is convenient for those who may have trouble getting to or would prefer not to have in-person therapy appointments. Starting at $65 per week, online counseling is generally more affordable than in-person counseling. A study by researchers at University of California, Berkeley found that online counseling can be just as effective as face-to-face therapy while being more convenient, affordable, and accessible.

Reviews for Donald Bliss

All reviews have been submitted by clients after seeing the provider.

Overall rating:

5.0

1 review

5
4
3
2
1

Clients mention: Recommend Warm

Expert, sound advice, warm soul and challenges / pushes you to question the norm. Would highly recommend

Reviewed May 2022

How was your experience with Donald?

Frequently asked questions

Does Donald Bliss offer telehealth visits?

Yes. Donald Bliss works with clients by exchanging messages, chatting live, speaking over the phone, or video conferencing based on what works for the client at that particular time.

What language(s) does Donald Bliss speak?

Donald Bliss speaks English and Portuguese.

How many years of experience does Donald Bliss have?

Donald Bliss has 30 years of experience.

Where is Donald Bliss licensed to practice?

Donald Bliss is licensed to practice in California.

Does Donald Bliss accept clients outside of the United States?

Yes, Donald Bliss accepts clients outside of the United States.

Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?

Numerous studies support the effectiveness of online platforms in facilitating life changes. For instance, research published by JMIR Publications, conducted by teams from the University of Berkeley, UCSF, and SF General Hospital, found that "users of BetterHelp experienced significantly reduced depression symptom severity after engaging with the platform."

What treatment approaches does Donald Bliss offer?

Donald Bliss offers clients Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Existential Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy.

How can I communicate with Donald Bliss?

Donald Bliss can be engaged in any one of four ways: (1) Exchanging messages, (2) chatting live, (3) speaking over the phone, or (4) video conferencing. You can use different ways at different times as you wish, based on your needs, availability, and convenience.

How do I get started with Donald Bliss?

Just tap the CHAT NOW button or tap here: A new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.

Mental health conditions are real, common, and treatable.

And recovery is possible.

Messaging
Live Chat
Phone
Video

When you tap CHAT NOW a new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.