- Grief and loss
- Stress and anxiety
- Relationship support
About Bret
Bret Patterson is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in Mississippi who uses a practical, person-centered approach. He focuses on day-to-day problems like stress, anxiety, grief, anger, and depression. He aims to listen without judgment and to help people take realistic steps toward feeling better.
Before counseling, he worked 25 years as a paramedic and clinical educator. That background shaped his calm manner and comfort with crisis situations. He draws on that experience when people are coping with loss, chronic illness, caregiver strain, or other high-pressure circumstances.
In sessions he adapts the conversation to each person’s needs. He uses methods such as client-centered work, cognitive behavioral ideas, dialectical behavior skills, mindfulness practices, and relationship-focused tools from the Gottman approach. These are woven into plans that feel practical and doable.
He helps people facing addictions, communication problems, codependency, or life changes find clearer choices and small steps forward. He also supports those dealing with abandonment issues, dissociation, and mood concerns like bipolar or disruptive mood challenges.
People can expect straightforward talk, goal-focused strategies, and coping skills they can try between meetings. Bret encourages realistic pacing and collaboration so each person moves at a comfortable speed toward their goals.
Before counseling, he worked 25 years as a paramedic and clinical educator. That background shaped his calm manner and comfort with crisis situations. He draws on that experience when people are coping with loss, chronic illness, caregiver strain, or other high-pressure circumstances.
In sessions he adapts the conversation to each person’s needs. He uses methods such as client-centered work, cognitive behavioral ideas, dialectical behavior skills, mindfulness practices, and relationship-focused tools from the Gottman approach. These are woven into plans that feel practical and doable.
He helps people facing addictions, communication problems, codependency, or life changes find clearer choices and small steps forward. He also supports those dealing with abandonment issues, dissociation, and mood concerns like bipolar or disruptive mood challenges.
People can expect straightforward talk, goal-focused strategies, and coping skills they can try between meetings. Bret encourages realistic pacing and collaboration so each person moves at a comfortable speed toward their goals.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
AddictionsLGBTFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCompassion fatigue
Additional focus areas
AbandonmentAvoidant personalityCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)DissociationDivorce and separationDrug and alcohol addictionEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHIV / AIDSHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsNarcissismPanic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersPost-traumatic stressProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual dysfunctionSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Gottman MethodMindfulness TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy
Experience
4+ years
Credentials
Mississippi
Languages
English
How therapeutic approaches translate to online care
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on respectful listening and collaboration. The therapist follows the person's lead, reflects concerns back, and helps people clarify what matters most so they can set useful goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches simple exercises to shift unhelpful patterns, which can help with anxiety, depression, and stress. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, offers practical skills for managing strong emotions, improving relationships, and tolerating distress, often through short step-by-step techniques.Finding the right approach is a shared process. The therapist will work together with each person to choose methods that fit their needs, goals, and daily life. That collaboration may mean mixing approaches over time until a good fit is found.
Confirm the available session formats before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit meetings into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. It also lets people try exercises and mindfulness practices in the settings where challenges happen. Ask about specific scheduling options when you begin the matching process so sessions align with work, caregiving, or health-related needs.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Bret commonly address?
He helps with stress, anxiety, grief, anger, depression, addictions, relationship and intimacy issues, and career or self-esteem concerns.
What is his general therapy style?
His style is person-centered and practical, combining talk, skill-building, and mindfulness to address immediate problems and longer-term patterns.
What experience does he bring to sessions?
He has four years of professional counseling experience and spent 25 years as a paramedic and clinical educator before becoming a counselor.
What credential does he hold and where is he located?
He is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Mississippi.
Which languages are supported during sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with him?
He does not accept international clients at this time.
How does billing and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin therapy with him?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.