Derek Bonds, LPC, LCPC

Derek Bonds is a Licensed Professional Counselor with 17 years of clinical experience. He focuses on helping people who are dealing with anxiety, depression, stress, low self-esteem, grief, anger, and major life changes. He offers steady encouragement and practical direction during hard moments.

Derek aims to help people find hope and regain momentum. He believes clients know themselves best and offers an outside perspective to help them move forward. Sessions are framed around support, encouragement, and exploring workable options.

He holds a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Montana State University - Billings and maintains licensure as an LPC and an LCPC. His background includes work in mental health agencies, school settings, and college counseling centers. That mix gives him experience with both everyday struggles and more complex mood concerns.

Derek has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in psychology and counseling. He has supervised graduate interns and overseen an outpatient therapy department, which informs his clinical judgment and how he structures sessions. He draws on a variety of approaches to match each person’s needs.

In sessions he uses clear, practical methods to address symptoms and build coping skills. He often combines talk and hands-on strategies to reduce distress and increase functioning. Derek aims to help people reconnect with purpose, handle workplace or relationship strain, and build more satisfying daily routines.

Using CBT and ACT in flexible online care

Many clients come for help with anxiety, depression, stress, and low self-esteem, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a core approach Derek uses. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking and changing patterns that keep problems going, which can help with symptoms, daily functioning, and problem-solving.

He also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people clarify what matters to them and take meaningful action even when feelings are difficult. ACT emphasizes values-based choices and learning to notice thoughts without getting stuck in them. Client-Centered principles guide his work by keeping the conversation focused on what the person needs and wants in each session.

Finding the right approach is part of therapy. Derek works collaboratively to figure out which methods fit a person’s goals and preferences. He adapts techniques over time and checks in regularly to ensure sessions stay useful and relevant.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for deeper conversations and skill practice, phone sessions can fit a quick check-in or when bandwidth is limited, live chat works for focused exchanges, and text messaging supports ongoing check-ins between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, school, and daily life while keeping the focus on progress and goals.