Donald Shawler, LCPC

Donald Shawler is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with 20 years of experience. He focuses on helping adults who struggle with depression, anxiety, stress, and other life challenges. Donald takes a straightforward, respectful approach so people can feel understood and begin to make changes that matter.

Donald uses practical, evidence-informed methods in sessions. He teaches ways to notice and reframe unhelpful thoughts. He also offers anger management skills and strategies for coping with grief, addiction, and relationship strain.

His style is warm and person-centered. He listens first, then helps clients set small goals. Sessions tend to be collaborative and down-to-earth, aimed at things people can try between meetings.

Donald has worked with a wide range of concerns over two decades. That includes issues such as self-esteem, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related problems, career stress, and caregiver burden. He also addresses specialized topics like aging and geriatric issues, kink and alternative sex culture, and HIV/AIDS related concerns.

Clients who prefer practical tools alongside empathetic listening may find his approach a good fit. He combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with client-centered and emotionally focused perspectives. The result is a flexible mix that targets thoughts, feelings, and relationships.

Sessions are offered for people in Illinois and beyond, and Donald works with international clients in English. He supports those looking for steady, skill-focused guidance through life transitions and persistent emotional struggles.

How Donald blends approaches for online therapy

Donald commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify unhelpful thinking patterns and practice new ways of responding. CBT is useful for anxiety, depression, anger, and many day-to-day problems because it focuses on clear skills and exercises.

He also works from a client-centered stance, which means he prioritizes listening and building a respectful, accepting relationship. This approach helps people feel heard and guides decisions about which techniques to try next. Emotionally-Focused Therapy is another tool he may use to help with relationship and intimacy-related concerns by examining emotional responses and interactions.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work together. Donald will discuss goals and preferences, try methods that match those goals, and adjust the plan as needed. Clients and therapist collaborate on which strategies fit best for symptoms and life context.

Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video is helpful for deeper conversational work and skill practice. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text messaging can support brief check-ins, homework reminders, and ongoing coaching between longer sessions.