Rated 4.9 stars out of 5, 81 ratings

Chris Dougherty

LPC, 13 years of experience

Authentic
Solution oriented
Open-minded
Virtual
Next available on

About me

As a husband and father of five, I deeply understand the joys and challenges of family life. My journey to becoming a counselor was a personal one, born from a desire to help others navigate life's complexities. While my studies as a mechanical engineer instilled in me a strong work ethic and problem-solving skills, I discovered a deeper calling in helping people find their way. I believe in a collaborative approach, where I actively listen to understand your unique needs and challenges. I draw on a diverse range of therapeutic techniques to provide practical, effective solutions that empower you to live a more fulfilling life. Whether you're struggling with individual issues, navigating relationship difficulties, or facing family challenges, I am committed to walking alongside you. I look forward to supporting you on your journey of growth and healing.

Get to know me

In our first session together, here's what you can expect

Our first session is about getting to know you and understanding what's bringing you to therapy. It's a chance for you to see if I can be the right fit for your journey. Together, we'll explore your concerns, set realistic goals, and create a plan to help you move forward. I'm committed to building a supportive and trusting relationship where you feel comfortable and empowered. By the end of our first session, I hope you'll feel heard, understood, and hopeful about the possibility of positive change.

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

You deserve a space where you feel truly supported and see tangible results. In our work together, clients often share that they look forward to sessions because they feel empowered and are actively making positive, lasting changes in their lives. I believe that the solutions you seek are already within you. We will work as a team: exploring your concerns, setting clear, achievable goals, and creating a step-by-step strategy to help you move forward. I'll provide you with the proven skills and crucial insights you need to navigate life's complexities with new confidence and ease. If you’ve struggled to find success in therapy before, I understand. My focus is on helping you find that breakthrough. Let's work together to help you feel prepared, capable, and truly ready to embrace the future you deserve.

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

My ideal clients are high-functioning individuals, couples, and families—often juggling the roles of a parent, partner, and professional—who are feeling the hidden cost of constant demands. You might be the person who, on paper, seems to "have it all together," yet you secretly feel drained, disconnected, or like something crucial is missing from your life. You're exhausted from trying to keep up, and this stress is showing up as anxiety, depression, burnout, feeling overstimulated or perpetually "on edge," relationship difficulties and communication breakdowns, and that deep, frustrating feeling of being stuck. You are someone who is ready to move past surface-level fixes and engage in meaningful, collaborative work. If your past therapy experiences haven't met your needs, you're the perfect fit for my practice, as I specialize in offering a fresh, results-oriented perspective. Since 2013, I've helped clients like you transition from surviving to thriving. Together, we will identify your unique challenges in a safe and supportive space, develop effective, real-world coping strategies, improve your communication and relationships, and rediscover your sense of purpose and well-being. If you are ready to prioritize your needs and create a concrete plan for lasting change, let's connect.

Specialties

Top specialties

Other specialties

Anger ManagementChild or AdolescentGriefSelf Esteem

I identify as

Serves ages

Teenagers (13 to 17)

My treatment methods

Christian Counseling

As a Christian counselor, I provide compassionate support and guidance to individuals seeking to navigate life's challenges through a faith-based perspective. By integrating Christian principles with therapeutic techniques, I help clients achieve mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. My goal is to walk alongside you, offering wisdom and hope, as we work together to foster healing, growth, and a deeper connection with God.

EMDR

If you are experiencing by nightmares, flashbacks, or the constant need to be on guard or avoid people and places, it's a sign that deep healing is needed. You might feel discouraged if previous attempts at counseling haven't been enough. That's where EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) offers a path to genuine healing. This approach doesn't just manage symptoms; it helps your brain fully process and release the hold of painful memories and the negative beliefs they created. My clients often experience a profound shift, reporting a lasting sense of relief and the ability to return to enjoying life—things they never thought they could experience again.

Acceptance and commitment (ACT)

Do you struggle with thoughts and feelings and feel stuck. Are you often thinking that your past or future controls you. Are you worried about never meeting your goals and that people only see you based on what you give. If so, Acceptance and commitment therapy is a great option as it focuses on process over goals and identifies things you already hold important in your life as the building blocks to your success. I have worked with many clients who were struggling with anxiety, depression, OCD, grief, stress, and psychosis. My clients have reported finding this unique approach as a great benefit and being able to use it in their daily lives.

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

It is great when our thoughts are beneficial and help us work through tough situations however sometimes we don't see things as clearly as we would like. If you are struggling with anxiety, depression, bipolar, psychosis, and other mental health conditions CBT can help. We can process through thoughts that are not beneficial and identify goals and objectives that help you focus on what you have control over and actions that help you manage life and be more successful and fulfilled.

Dialectical Behavior (DBT)

I have found that DBT has helped people I serve increase their emotional regulation, increase their ability to interact with others in a positive, caring, consistent, and assertive way. As well as work through the distress of difficult areas in their life in a way that balances their thoughts and emotions in the present moment.

Location

Virtual

Licensed in

Rated 4.9 stars out of 5, 81 ratings

6 ratings with written reviews

July 11, 2025

First Therapy session I’ve ever had so I don’t know anything but from my experience with Chris I had a great time

Verified client, age 25-34

Review shared after session 1 with Chris

July 4, 2025

Chris is incredibly understanding and patient. Gives you multiple different styles to approach your mental health, Great guy.

Verified client, age 18-24

Review shared after session 1 with Chris

June 12, 2025

Chris’ profile stood out because he is a family man and a man of faith, and I thought he would be someone who could make my husband comfortable with couples counseling, and I was right! He can quote scripture just as quickly as he can give us a baseball analogy and knows when we need each. He’s straightforward in a way that feels constructive and never critical, and keeps us focused on the bigger picture when we start to veer off course. It’s truly a blessing to get to work with him

Verified client, age 25-34

Review shared after session 2 with Chris