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MD, LCSW-C, LISW

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

  • Experience52 years
  • LocationSouth Carolina
  • Focus areasStress and Anxiety, Relationship, and Grief
  • Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Attachment-Based Therapy
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About Donald

Dr. Donald Strauss brings more than five decades of clinical work to his practice, combining medical training with social work expertise.

Background and approach

He holds an MD and social work licenses LCSW-C and LISW, and his background includes advanced social work degrees and board recognition in clinical social work.

Over the years he has worked with a broad range of conditions, including neurodegenerative disorders, bipolar and chronic mental health conditions, substance-related concerns, grief, relationship and intimacy challenges, and stress-related issues such as compassion fatigue. His approach blends evidence-informed strategies with an emphasis on practical problem solving and new cognitive strategies to shift unhelpful patterns.

Dr. Strauss integrates methods drawn from Internal Family Systems, attachment-focused work, client-centered principles, and cognitive behavioral techniques to tailor interventions to each person’s needs.

He frames therapy as a collaborative effort that replaces dated coping strategies with alternatives that better serve current life demands. Based in South Carolina, he offers services in English and accepts clients internationally through a range of online session formats.

Integrating Approaches Online for Practical Change

Dr. Strauss commonly draws on Internal Family Systems to help clients understand and work with different parts of themselves, using that perspective to reduce internal conflict and build internal cooperation. He also uses Attachment-Based Therapy to explore relational patterns and how early bonds shape current interactions, which can help people address trust, intimacy, and communication challenges. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is applied to identify unhelpful thought and behavior patterns and to develop concrete skills for managing mood, anxiety, and everyday stressors.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process and is done collaboratively. He works with clients to assess needs, goals, and preferences and then combines techniques from these methods to create a tailored plan rather than relying on a single strategy. This collaborative stance helps clients feel involved in shaping their treatment pathway.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide scheduling flexibility and wider access. These formats allow licensed professionals to deliver structured interventions, teach coping skills, and support ongoing problem solving while fitting therapy into varied routines and geographic locations.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems does this clinician address?
He works with a wide array of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, bipolar disorder, ADHD, trauma and related difficulties.
How would you describe his therapeutic style?
The style emphasizes collaborative problem solving and practical cognitive strategies, combining client-centered listening with structured interventions to change thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
What is his clinical background and experience?
He has 52 years of clinical experience and has worked extensively with neurodegenerative disorders, chronic mental health conditions, life-altering injuries, and helping professionals facing compassion fatigue.
Which credentials and location are listed for this therapist?
Credentials include MD, LCSW-C, and LISW with licence details MD LCSW-C 02805 and SC LISW 11121, and he is based in South Carolina.
Does he provide services in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English, and he does accept international clients as part of his practice.
What session formats are available for working together?
He sees clients via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and schedules.
How are fees and billing handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin therapy with him?
To begin, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesGriefIntimacy-related issuesDepression

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAttachment issuesAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Divorce and separationDomestic violenceEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisMood disordersMulticultural concernsNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersPhobiasPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseSexual dysfunctionSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationTraumatic brain injuryWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Motivational InterviewingPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family SystemsSystemic Therapy

Experience

52+ years

Licensed

South Carolina, Maryland

Languages

English