Bret Patterson

Bret Patterson is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) practicing in Mississippi. He draws on four years of counseling experience and a long career in emergency medicine to help people manage stress, anxiety, grief, anger, depression, and addiction. He writes and talks with clients in a direct, respectful way that aims to make change feel possible.

Before becoming a counselor, Bret spent 25 years as a paramedic and clinical educator. That background shaped his calm approach to crises and difficult conversations. He uses that experience to help people break problems down into steps they can handle.

Bret works from practical therapy methods such as client-centered work, cognitive behavioral techniques, dialectical behavior ideas, mindfulness, and relationship-focused tools like the Gottman Method. He adapts sessions to each person rather than using a single protocol for everyone.

Sessions focus on clear goals such as improving communication, coping with loss, managing strong emotions, or reducing anxious thinking. Bret emphasizes skills you can try between meetings so progress continues outside the therapy hour.

He believes seeking help takes courage and describes himself as a supportive guide along that path. People who want straightforward, respectful conversation and doable tools often choose to work with him.

Approach-driven online care and skill building

Bret integrates client-centered therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy to help people name what matters and take practical steps to change. Client-centered work means sessions start with listening and shaping goals around what the person wants. Cognitive behavioral techniques focus on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing small behavior changes to reduce worry and low mood.

He also uses elements of dialectical behavior therapy to teach emotion regulation and distress tolerance skills when strong feelings or intense reactions get in the way of daily life. These approaches can help with anxiety, depression, anger, relationship strain, and coping after loss. Deciding which methods to use is collaborative; the therapist and client work together to match tools to goals and preferences.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm the current session options before booking so you know which formats are available. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Bret aims to offer practical exercises and at-home skills that transfer to everyday life regardless of how the sessions are delivered.