Dr. Donald Strauss, LCSW-C, LISW

Dr. Donald Strauss brings more than five decades of clinical work to his practice. He holds a Master of Social Work from Florida State University and a Ph.D. in Clinical Social Work from the University of Maryland. He is licensed as an LISW in South Carolina and as an LCSW-C in Maryland. He often works with people facing long-term mental health challenges and complex medical-related stressors.

In sessions he focuses on practical changes people can try between meetings. He uses approaches that help people spot and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. He also draws on attachment-focused ideas to look at how close relationships shape reactions and coping.

His background includes work with people living with neurodegenerative disorders such as ALS and multiple sclerosis, and with those managing life-altering injuries and chronic conditions. He has also supported helping professionals dealing with compassion fatigue and burnout. Those experiences inform a steady, problem-solving style in the room.

Therapy typically involves identifying patterns, testing new ways of responding, and building routines that fit day-to-day life. He uses evidence-informed interventions and practical problem solving to support change. Sessions move at a pace chosen by the person seeking help.

Dr. Strauss prefers a straightforward, respectful tone and aims for clear next steps. He helps people work through issues such as anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy concerns, addictions, trauma, grief, ADHD, and challenges around self-esteem and coping with life changes.

How therapeutic approaches guide online work

Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early and current close relationships affect how people cope and connect. It helps with intimacy concerns, abandonment worries, and patterns of avoidance by exploring relationship history and current reactions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and testing alternatives. It is useful for anxiety, depression, and problems like sleep or eating difficulties because it gives concrete strategies to try between sessions. Motivational Interviewing supports people who are unsure about change by clarifying goals and strengthening personal motivation in a collaborative way.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss options and tailor methods to the person's goals, needs, and preferences. That collaboration helps decide whether to emphasize thinking-and-behavior exercises, attachment-based exploration, or motivational techniques.

The original biography did not list specific online session formats, so confirm current session options before booking. In general, online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. They also let conversations continue when in-person visits are difficult because of health, location, or scheduling constraints. Licensed professionals can adapt CBT exercises, attachment-focused conversation, and motivational techniques to work over distance while helping people build practical routines and coping skills.