- Emotion-focused work
- Cognitive approaches
- Person-centered care
About Donald
Donald Shawler is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Illinois with 20 years of experience. He works with adults who face depression, anxiety, stress, addiction, grief, relationship concerns, and other life changes. He lists Emotionally-Focused Therapy among his approaches and draws on several practical methods to support clients.
Shawler uses a person-centered style that focuses on what each person brings to a session. He listens for the patterns that keep people stuck and helps name feelings that can be hard to identify. He also teaches cognitive techniques to help clients notice and reframe unhelpful thoughts.
Anger management skills are part of his work for those whose anger causes problems. He also addresses intimacy-related issues, self-esteem, and concerns tied to sexuality and identity including LGBT topics. Additional areas include caregiver stress, body image, substance use, and grief.
Sessions tend to be practical and goal-oriented. Shawler mixes Emotionally-Focused Therapy ideas with client-centered care and cognitive tools to help people change how they respond to emotions and relationships. Mindfulness and existential perspectives are used when helpful to explore meaning, values, and present-moment awareness.
He accepts English-speaking clients and works with people from varied backgrounds, including those with complex histories of trauma, addiction, or major life transitions. To begin, prospective clients complete a short questionnaire and schedule an initial appointment.
How his approaches translate to online work
Donald uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy to help people name and work with strong emotions and attachment patterns. EFT helps when feelings around relationships, closeness, or loss are hard to put into words. Client-Centered Therapy is focused on listening and following the client’s lead; online sessions keep the conversation person-driven and respectful. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps people spot thinking patterns and practice new responses, which can be done through guided exercises during sessions or between appointments.Choosing the right approach is a team effort. He will talk with each person about goals, what has helped before, and what feels most useful. That conversation guides whether EFT, CBT, client-centered work, or a mix is tried first, and it can change over time based on progress and preference.
The original biography does not specify which remote session formats are used, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Therapists generally adapt exercises, skills practice, and emotion-focused conversations to a virtual setting so they remain practical and relevant to daily life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does he handle?
He works with depression, anxiety, stress, addictions, grief, relationship and intimacy-related issues, and a broad list of other concerns such as caregiver stress and body image.
What therapeutic style does he use?
He uses a person-centered approach combined with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Emotionally-Focused Therapy ideas, plus mindfulness and existential perspectives when appropriate.
How much clinical experience does he have?
He has 20 years of experience working with adults on a wide range of mental health and relationship-related concerns.
What are his credentials and where is he based?
He is an LCPC licensed in Illinois and practices with that credential in that state.
Does he work in languages other than English or with international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and he accepts international clients.
What session formats are offered?
The original biography does not list specific session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How are fees handled?
Costs vary with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.