Brian Nowak, LPCC

Brian Nowak is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) based in Ohio. He brings 32 years of experience and a straightforward, practical approach to care. He aims to create a warm, respectful space where people feel heard and understood.

Brian uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) alongside client-centered and solution-focused practices. Sessions focus on identifying unhelpful thoughts, strong emotions, and behaviors that get in the way. Then he works with individuals to set clear goals and build coping skills that are useful day to day.

Mindfulness and relaxation exercises are woven into sessions. Brian describes these as simple practices people can repeat outside appointments to manage stress and anxiety. He also uses motivational interviewing to support changes like smoking or vaping cessation.

Sessions are practical and skills-based. Homework and short exercises are common, because practicing between meetings helps new habits stick. The emphasis is on small, measurable steps that add up over time.

People contact Brian for many concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, anger, grief, workplace strain, self-esteem, relationships, addictions, and life transitions. He helps people talk through immediate problems and build tools for longer-term resilience.

Applying CBT and Mindfulness in Online Sessions

Brian blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and client-centered techniques into online sessions so people can practice real skills between meetings. CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors; it is often used for anxiety, depression, stress, and coping with life changes. Client-centered work emphasizes listening and building a collaborative relationship so the person feels understood and involved in goal setting.

Mindfulness practices are introduced as brief exercises for calming the body and noticing thoughts without judgment. These simple practices pair well with CBT homework and can help manage strong emotions or cravings, including support for smoking and vaping cessation. The therapist works together with the person to decide which approaches fit their goals and daily routine, adjusting methods over time as needs and preferences become clearer.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to make scheduling easier and to match different preferences. Video sessions allow face-to-face work on skills, phone sessions can be useful when bandwidth is limited, live chat supports shorter check-ins, and text messaging helps people continue momentum between appointments. These options aim to make therapy more flexible and easier to fit into a busy life.