Brian Dawson

I'm a Michigan-licensed therapist with 25 years of experience working with adults, teens, couples, and families. My specialties include anxiety, depression, men's mental health, relationship and family conflict, substance use, and major life transitions. I bring a direct, practical approach — I won't just listen passively. I'll help you understand what's actually driving the patterns in your life and give you real tools to shift them. My style is warm and I

have a sense of humor, which I think matters more in therapy than most people admit. I accept Aetna, Carelon Behavioral Health, and Cigna through Headway.

I draw on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, the Gottman Method, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), adjusting my approach to what genuinely helps you — not a fixed protocol applied to everyone. I care about the whole person: how you think, how you feel, and how you act. Real change usually requires working at all three levels together. I'm results-oriented, but I also know when to slow down and sit with what's difficult. I'll be direct with you and I expect the same in return — that's where the real work happens.

Our first session is a real conversation, not a clinical intake checklist. We'll talk through what brought you in, what you're hoping to get from therapy, and some background so I can start understanding your full story. By the end of that first hour, we'll have a clear sense of what we're working on and a direction forward. It's a welcoming, no performance-required space. Come as you are.