Works with
- Anger
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Grief
- Anger management
- Depression
How Bret works
Practical facts
- Credentials
- LPC
- Licensed in
- Mississippi
- Years in practice
- 4
- Languages
- English
- Session format
- Online, through our partner platform
About Bret
Bret Patterson is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Mississippi who focuses on clear, practical help for stress, anxiety, grief, anger, and depression. He draws on four years of counseling experience and a straightforward, respectful style to help people who are worn down by life changes or difficult emotions. Before counseling he spent 25 years as a paramedic and clinical educator.
That background shaped his comfort with crisis, medical-related stress, and caring for people under pressure.
Background and approach
He uses that experience to stay calm and focused during hard conversations. In sessions he keeps talk direct and goal-oriented. He listens first, then works with each person to build a plan that fits their needs.
That plan can include practical skills for managing strong feelings, improving communication, or coping after loss. He combines client-centered work with cognitive behavioral techniques and mindfulness practice. Bret also draws on dialectical behavior skills and the Gottman Method when relationship patterns and communication are central concerns.
He adapts methods to match what a person needs right now rather than following a single scripted approach. People who choose him often want straightforward tools they can use between sessions. He aims to make progress feel measurable and relevant to daily life.
Taking the first step can feel hard, and he offers steady support while people try new ways of coping.
What Bret works with
Everything Bret lists, in the therapist's own terms. Anger is the reason this directory exists; the rest tells you what usually sits alongside it in Bret's practice.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Grief
- Anger management
- Depression
- Addictions
- LGBT
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Intimacy-related issues
- Parenting issues
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- Abandonment
- Avoidant personality
- Cancer
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Dependent personality
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Dissociation
- Divorce and separation
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- HIV / AIDS
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Narcissism
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Personality disorders
- Post-traumatic stress
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sexual dysfunction
- Sexuality
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Somatization
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Bret lists
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Gottman Method
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
Therapeutic approaches for online care
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and tailoring the work to each person. It helps when someone needs a respectful, nonjudgmental space to talk through feelings and decide what change looks like. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts and behaviors affect mood and teaches actionable skills for managing anxiety, anger, and depression. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, abbreviated DBT, offers practical tools for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and improving interpersonal effectiveness when emotions feel overwhelming.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and what has or has not helped before to shape a plan together. That plan can mix elements from different approaches so it matches the person's needs rather than sticking to one label.
Online therapy with Bret is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for a full session and face-to-face interaction. Phone can be easier when bandwidth is limited or for a quick check-in. Live chat and text messaging work well for brief updates, reminders, or shorter coaching-style exchanges between sessions. These options give flexibility to fit sessions into work breaks, caregiving schedules, or other day-to-day demands.
Questions people ask about Bret
What concerns does this therapist commonly address?
Bret works with stress, anxiety, grief, anger, depression, addictions, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy issues, self-esteem, career concerns, and a wide range of related issues listed in his profile.
What is his therapeutic style like?
He uses a practical, client-centered approach with techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, mindfulness, and the Gottman Method when helpful.
How much clinical experience does he have?
He has four years of professional counseling experience and spent 25 years previously working as a paramedic and clinical educator.
Where is he licensed and practicing?
He is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Mississippi.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
He offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different schedules and needs.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.