Somatic-Therapists

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Dr. Donald Strauss, MD, LCSW-C, LISW

Trusted clinician with practical tools

DS Portrait of Dr. Donald Strauss

About Donald

Dr. Donald Strauss is a clinician with more than five decades of experience. He holds an MD and two social work licenses, and he draws on that long practice history when meeting people facing hard problems.

He speaks plainly and focuses on practical steps people can try between sessions. Background and approach He has worked with many kinds of concerns over his career, including bipolar disorder, chronic mental health issues, addiction, grief, trauma and abuse, and stress-related conditions.

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Background and approach

He has also supported people coping with neurodegenerative disorders and life-altering medical issues. He is comfortable addressing relationship and intimacy-related worries and common struggles like sleep, eating, and self-esteem. Dr.

Strauss uses somatic ideas alongside attachment-based and client-centered ways of working. He also draws on cognitive behavioral strategies and motivational interviewing to help people change patterns that cause distress. Sessions often involve identifying unhelpful thoughts and habits and practicing different responses in real life.

His style is collaborative and solution-focused. He helps people name problems, try alternatives, and check what works. He also pays attention to how the body holds stress and uses that information to guide steps toward relief.

Practical details: he practices from South Carolina and conducts sessions in English. International clients are accepted when scheduling permits.

How Somatic and Attachment Ideas Work Online

Somatic-informed work pays attention to how stress and emotion show up in the body. In sessions this might mean noticing breath, posture, or bodily tension and using simple exercises to shift those sensations. This can help with anxiety, chronic stress, and some trauma-related reactions.

Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships shape expectations for closeness and safety. A therapist helps identify repeating patterns in relationships and supports trying different responses to build more stable connections and clearer communication.

Finding the right approach is a shared task. The therapist will talk with each person about goals and preferences, and then choose or adapt methods together. That makes it easier to try techniques that fit the person’s life and to adjust if something isn’t helpful.

Online sessions can be held by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging. Those options make it possible to work from home, during a break, or while traveling. They also allow follow-up between sessions through messaging and flexible scheduling to fit busy lives.
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Frequently asked questions

What issues does Dr. Strauss address?
He works with a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, bipolar disorder, trauma, grief, relationship and intimacy-related issues, and challenges like sleep and eating problems.
How would you describe his therapy style?
His approach is practical and collaborative, combining somatic awareness, attachment-focused thinking, and cognitive-behavioral techniques to help people try new ways of coping.
What is his clinical background?
He has over 52 years of experience and has worked with people facing chronic mental health issues, neurodegenerative disorders, and compassion fatigue among helping professionals.
What credentials does he hold and where is he based?
He holds MD, LCSW-C, and LISW credentials and practices from South Carolina.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients may be seen when scheduling allows.
What formats are available for sessions?
Sessions can be conducted by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on the client’s preference.
How are fees and payment handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, fill out a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Experience
52 years
Licensed
South Carolina, Maryland
Languages
English