PuttingFamilyFirst

The therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp and we will earn a commission if you use our link - at no cost to you.

BP Portrait of Bret Patterson
Online therapist

Bret Patterson

Calm, practical counseling for everyday struggles

Credentials
LPC
Experience
4 years
Licensed in
Mississippi
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Bret

Bret Patterson is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) practicing in Mississippi. He uses a practical, client-focused style to help people facing stress, anxiety, grief, anger, depression, addictions, LGBT concerns, relationship challenges, parenting questions, and other life changes. He speaks plainly and aims to make sessions feel straightforward and useful for everyday problems.

Before becoming a counselor, Bret spent 25 years working as a paramedic and clinical educator. That background informs his calm presence and ability to stay steady in difficult moments.

Background and approach

He draws on four years of formal counseling experience combined with those earlier clinical roles. In sessions he adapts the conversation and plan to each person’s needs. Techniques may include talking through patterns, practicing new skills, and building small steps that fit daily life.

He emphasizes respect, sensitivity, and compassion while encouraging practical change. Bret works with a range of concerns including trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, self-esteem, career changes, bipolar disorder, and coping with illness or caregiving stress. He also addresses more specific issues such as abandonment, communication problems, codependency, and divorce or separation.

Clients can expect a collaborative approach where goals are set together and progress is measured in real-life terms. He offers multiple ways to connect and will tailor therapy to what a person finds most helpful. Taking the first step can feel hard, and he aims to make that step clearer and more manageable.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and creating a respectful space where a person’s own goals guide the work; it helps people clarify what matters and find their own solutions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, helps identify unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and replaces them with practical skills to reduce anxiety, depression, and stress. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, adds specific tools for emotion regulation and coping skills that are useful when strong emotions feel overwhelming.

Choosing the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work together with each person to decide which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. That collaborative planning allows techniques to be mixed and adjusted as progress is made.

Online therapy is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to keep regular appointments, practice skills between sessions, and get support from home or wherever a person is located within the region served.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Concrete skills for riding out strong emotion, tolerating distress, and handling relationships without things escalating. The skills are practised in daily life, so between-session support by message or phone fits naturally.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Bret address?
He works with a broad set of issues including stress, anxiety, grief, anger, depression, addictions, relationship and intimacy concerns, parenting questions, and compassion fatigue.
How would you describe his therapeutic style?
He uses a straightforward, client-centered approach that focuses on practical steps and skills. Sessions often mix talk with concrete tools to try between meetings.
What experience does he bring to therapy?
He has four years of professional counseling experience and previously spent 25 years as a paramedic and clinical educator, which contributes to a grounded, steady approach.
Where is he licensed and what is his credential?
He is licensed in Mississippi and holds the credential MS LPC 3070 as a licensed professional counselor.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
Therapy can take place by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on what the client prefers.
How are fees and cost handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What do I need to do to start therapy?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling sessions based on the therapist's availability.

Next step

Talk to Bret

  • Takes a few minutes
  • Nothing to set up just to look
  • Stop at any point