Richard Watson

Richard Watson is a licensed clinical professional counselor in Illinois with nine years of experience providing therapy. He works from the belief that the therapist brings professional expertise while the client remains the expert on their own life, and that healing happens through empowerment, understanding, and collaboration.

His clinical focus includes mood disorders such as depression and anxiety and substance use disorders, and he also supports people dealing with stress, addictions, trauma and abuse, anger management, family conflicts, grief, intimacy-related issues, sleeping disorders, self-esteem concerns, bipolar disorder, coping with life changes, compassion fatigue, and ADHD.

Richard takes a trauma-informed approach that honors the variety of life experiences and resilience people carry. He emphasizes that effective therapy rests on trust, openness, and authenticity, and he is upfront that therapy can be uncomfortable; growth often requires leaning into that discomfort.

His practice is grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. In sessions he helps individuals learn to identify, challenge, and replace unhelpful thoughts and behaviors that contribute to and maintain their difficulties.

Richard recognizes how hard it can be to ask for help—whether someone is coping with loneliness, deep sadness, or overwhelming worry—and he respects the courage it takes to reach out. May you find peace, happiness, and wholeness.