Book a therapist or psychiatrist in South Bend, IN covered by Aetna

I am passionate about helping people heal and find true joy in their lives. Focus is on the "whole person" - emotional, spiritual, and physical. Together we walk a gentle path toward wholeness and peace.

My name is Doug L. Watson, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, RN, and I’m a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with three years of experience treating clients across the lifespan. While I’m trained to work with individuals of all ages, about 85% of my practice has been focused on pediatrics and adolescents—a population I’m truly passionate about serving. I see children as young as five years old through Telehealth up to ages 75 or higher if needed. I earned both my BSN and MSN from Indiana Wesleyan University, completing my graduate degree in October 2022.

I genuinely love what I do and have always felt called to the field of psychiatry. Becoming a Psych/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner has been one of the most fulfilling decisions of my life. I’m excited to be on my own, building a lasting career. I’m committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based care and making a positive difference in the lives of my clients and their families.

Feeling overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, or stuck in patterns that no longer seem to work? Whether you're navigating anxiety, relationship challenges, grief, a major life transition, chronic health concerns, or simply feeling disconnected from yourself, you don't have to go through it alone.

For more than 20 years, I have had the privilege of walking alongside children, adolescents, and adults through some of life's most difficult seasons. My mission is simple: to restore hope, foster healing, and support meaningful personal growth. I provide a compassionate, nonjudgmental space where you can feel heard, understood, and empowered as we work toward the life you want to live.

I am a licensed clinical social worker in Indiana. I earned my masters degree in social work from the University of Louisville in 2013. I have over 13 years of professional social work experience in the mental health field as well as the school setting. I am dedicated to helping individuals, families, and children navigate life’s most difficult seasons. I have a dual background as both a licensed clinical

(LCSW) and School Social Worker (LSSW), which is a great asset for parents looking for help with school-related issues. Whether you are struggling with anxiety, depression, or the lasting effects of trauma, I provide a safe, non-judgmental space where you can feel truly heard. I am currently accepting new clients for telehealth across Indiana.

With nearly 10 years of experience providing therapy, I believe meaningful change happens when you feel both deeply understood and gently challenged. My style is warm, human, and occasionally sprinkled with humor- because therapy doesn't have to feel cold, clinical, or intimidating to be effective.

I specialize in working with OCD and anxiety, helping clients understand intrusive thoughts, compulsions, and the anxiety cycles that keep them going. Together, we focus on building tolerance for uncertainty, reducing compulsive behaviors, and increasing emotional flexibility.

I also have specialized training and experience in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), and evidence-based therapy approach that helps people process trauma, reduce emotional intensity, and shift long-standing beliefs that no longer serve them.

In addition, I work with individuals navigating major life changes, including high-conflict divorce and the painful realities of parental alienation. These experiences can be isolating, overwhelming, and deeply destabilizing. My approach centers on helping clients regain a sense of grounding, clarity, and agency, while learning practical tools to cope with ongoing stress, grief, and complex family dynamics.

You might feel alone in this struggle but you don’t have to be. My work, which has been shaped by my own experiences of suffering and clinical training, is more than a career, it is a calling. I help people move from surviving to living with intention, calm, and confidence.

I have an undergraduate degree in psychology, and a master’s in clinical social work. I specialize in treating OCD and other anxiety disorders with Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy. I use this therapy because I’ve seen it help people begin living the lives that they want to live without fear being the driving force.

I also have a background in working with parents who are experiencing challenging situations. Whenever I work with children, I work with the caregivers as well in order to improve family unity and create lasting change.

I am very trauma-aware in that I recognize the role that past experiences have had in shaping who we are today. My philosophy is that these experiences don’t have to hold us back, but that healing is a journey to be embraced.