Bret Patterson, LPC

Bret Patterson is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in Mississippi who focuses on practical, person-centered care. He helps people manage stress, anxiety, grief, anger, depression, and intimacy-related issues. He also supports clients facing addictions, relationship struggles, self-esteem concerns, and life changes.

Before counseling, Bret spent 25 years as a paramedic and clinical educator. That background shaped his calm, straightforward approach to stressful situations. He brings four years of counseling experience to sessions and adapts conversations to each person's needs.

Sessions emphasize clear goals and simple skills people can use between appointments. Bret uses client-centered work to follow each person's pace and priorities. He also draws on cognitive behavioral techniques to challenge unhelpful thoughts and dialectical behavior strategies for emotion regulation when needed.

Mindfulness practices are introduced in short, practical ways. For relationship concerns he uses elements of the Gottman Method to address communication and conflict patterns. He avoids jargon and keeps guidance concrete so people can try things the same week.

Bret frames therapy as a collaborative process. He listens first, then helps shape a plan that fits daily life. He respects each person's values and aims to create a steady path toward more manageable emotions and clearer choices.

How his approaches guide online work

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and following the client's lead, helping people feel heard and understood as they set their own goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions and provides practical exercises to change unhelpful patterns. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers concrete skills for managing intense emotions and improving distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Bret will talk with each person about goals and preferences, then recommend techniques from these approaches that match what the person wants to work on. The plan can change as progress is made so therapy stays relevant to daily life.

Please confirm the current session options before booking, as formats are not specified in the biography. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy day, reduce commute time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. It also lets people practice skills in real-world settings and bring those experiences back into sessions for review.