Bret Patterson, LPC

Bret Patterson is an LPC who focuses on practical help for people coping with stress and anxiety. He speaks plainly and aims to create a respectful, compassionate space for conversation. He brings four years of counseling experience to his work in Mississippi.

Before counseling, he spent 25 years as a paramedic and clinical educator. That background shaped his calm approach and comfort with crisis situations. He uses what he learned in those roles to help people manage strong emotions and navigate difficult events.

Bret adapts his dialogue and treatment plans to each person. He works with concerns such as grief and loss, anger, depression, addictions, and intimacy-related issues. He also addresses relationship struggles, parenting strain, career stress, and challenges tied to chronic illness or caregiving.

In sessions he draws on client-centered methods, cognitive behavioral techniques, dialectical behavior ideas, mindfulness practices, and elements of the Gottman Method. He aims to help clients notice patterns, try small changes, and build skills that fit their daily life.

His style is straightforward and supportive. He encourages people to take the first steps toward change and stays focused on practical steps and clear goals. Prospective clients who live in Mississippi and who prefer working in English can expect a collaborative planning process.

Approach and fit for online therapy

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and responding to each person's priorities, helping them set goals and feel understood. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and teaches practical strategies to change them, which often helps with anxiety and mood concerns. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers skills for managing intense emotions and improving interpersonal effectiveness, useful for anger, relationship stress, and overwhelming feelings.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Bret will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their needs, goals, and preferences. This is a team process that may combine different techniques over time based on what helps most.

Confirm the exact session formats before booking, as the biography does not list specific online options. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into busy days, allow for shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. It can also let people use phone-only sessions when bandwidth is limited or choose video when visual connection is helpful. Ask about current session options when you schedule so arrangements match your routine and goals.