Doris Gardner-Wilson

Compassionate clinician blending proven strategies and empathy

LCSW Texas

Experience: 25 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English

About Doris

Doris Gardner-Wilson is an LCSW based in Texas who supports people facing stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship challenges, trauma and abuse, grief, and mood concerns such as depression and bipolar disorder.

Background and approach

She also addresses intimacy-related issues, anger, self-esteem, career transitions, and coping with life changes, along with a wider range of focused areas including attachment concerns, caregiver stress, chronic illness, body image, and communication problems.

With 25 years of clinical experience, she draws on a broad skill set to help clients navigate both everyday pressures and more complex emotional patterns. Her approach emphasizes collaborative, nonjudgmental work aimed at increasing insight and practical coping skills.

She integrates evidence-informed methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to tailor support to each person’s needs. Doris aims to create a space where people can explore thoughts and feelings, build resilience, and move toward meaningful change.

She practices in Texas and offers services in English.

Integrating evidence-based approaches for online care

Online therapy with Doris combines practical, skills-focused methods and relational work to address mood, anxiety, addiction, and relational struggles. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is used to identify and shift unhelpful thinking patterns and habits, offering concrete tools for managing symptoms like anxiety and depression. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps clients clarify values and build psychological flexibility through mindful acceptance and committed action, which can be useful for coping with chronic stress, grief, or life transitions.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. She works together with each client to explore which methods resonate most, adjusting techniques to match personal goals, preferences, and experiences rather than prescribing a single path from the outset.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility for varied schedules and comfort levels. These formats allow work to continue from home or other settings, making it easier to attend regularly and integrate new skills into daily life while maintaining continuity with a licensed professional.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she commonly address?

She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship and intimacy-related issues, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, bipolar disorder, and coping with life changes among other concerns.

What is her therapeutic style and approach?

She uses a collaborative, nonjudgmental style and integrates approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to match client needs.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She brings 25 years of professional experience working with a wide range of emotional, relational, and behavioral concerns.

What credentials and location apply to her practice?

Doris Gardner-Wilson holds the LCSW credential with Texas license number TX LCSW 58672 and practices in Texas.

Does she provide services in multiple languages or to international clients?

Sessions are offered in English, and she is not currently accepting international clients.

Which session formats are available?

She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different communication preferences.

How is cost handled for sessions?

Fees vary with location and therapist availability, and sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the first steps to begin working with her?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety AddictionsRelationship issuesTrauma and abuse Grief

Also works with

Family conflictsIntimacy-related issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderDepression Coping with life changes

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeAvoidant personalityBDSM, kink, and alternative sex cultureBlended family issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)DissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shame ImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMen's issuesVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCD Panic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPhobiasPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Self-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseSexual dysfunctionSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyEye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Gottman MethodImago Relationship TherapyJungian TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

25+ years

Licensed

Texas

Languages

English