Richard "Rick" Dawson , LCSW

Richard "Rick" Dawson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Oregon with 33 years of professional experience. He returned to active practice after a period of retirement, driven by a long-standing passion for helping people navigate life s challenges and the growing need for accessible mental health care.

Rick began his counseling career in 1992 after earlier years as a working musician. While completing his counseling degree he provided inpatient care in a general hospital psychiatric department in Nevada, and he continued there for about 15 years offering individual, family, and group therapy. In 2004 he launched a private practice and later expanded his experience with work at a stand-alone psychiatric hospital, a community mental health clinic, and hospice care. For the decade leading up to his retirement he practiced as an outpatient therapist in a family medical clinic in suburban Portland, Oregon.

He works with adults and families on issues such as depression, stress and anxiety, addictions, relationship difficulties, grief and loss, trauma and abuse, parenting challenges, sleep problems, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and related concerns like guilt, shame, isolation, and panic. He focuses on creating an open, nonjudgmental therapeutic partnership to problem-solve collaboratively and support clients in building more rewarding, fulfilling lives.