- emotion regulation
- communication skills
- CBT and ACT
About Dawn
Dawn O'Regan is a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) with 25 years of clinical experience in community mental health and private practice. She is based in Iowa and has worked across group and individual practice settings. She helps people who struggle with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and communication problems, anger, and other life changes.
Dawn focuses on practical building blocks for healthier relationships. She works on clearer communication, emotional regulation, and strengthening self-worth. She also helps people notice strengths in themselves and others and put words to feelings that have been hard to name.
Her style is client-centered. She treats people as experts on their own lives and collaborates on goals and the direction of work. She uses a strengths-based and solution-focused lens to shape short- and longer-term plans that feel doable.
Dawn draws on several therapy methods in session. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to look at links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. She incorporates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness practices to build present-moment awareness and values-based action. Attachment-informed work helps when relationship patterns and family of origin issues are in focus.
She has extensive experience helping people with complex concerns, including grief, trauma, addiction, caregiving stress, body image and eating issues, and chronic illness. Dawn also supports people working through intimacy concerns and compassion fatigue. Her approach is practical, skill-focused, and oriented toward what clients want to change next.
How her approaches translate to online work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, and then take small steps aligned with what matters to them. It is useful for anxiety, anger, and moving through life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thought patterns and testing them with real-life experiments to shift behavior and mood. It is often used for depression, anxiety, and communication problems. Attachment-based ideas look at how early relationship patterns shape current interactions and help people practice different ways of relating.Finding the right mix of methods is collaborative. Dawn treats clients as partners in deciding what to try and will adjust approaches based on goals, progress, and what feels doable. That means sessions can include skills practice, short behavioral experiments, values-based planning, or exploring relational patterns as needed.
Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow short check-ins when schedules are tight. It also lets therapy include homework review, guided mindfulness practice, and using tools together in the moment without needing extra travel.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
25+ years
Listed in
Iowa
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she work with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and communication problems, anger, grief, trauma, and related issues.
What is her general approach in sessions?
Her work is client-centered and strengths-based, using solution-focused planning and practical skills practice.
How long has she worked in this field?
She has 25 years of experience in community mental health and private practice settings.
What credentials and location apply to her practice?
She is an Iowa Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) and practices from Iowa.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the US work with her?
She is not accepting international clients at this time.
How are sessions scheduled and paid for?
Cost varies by location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the See online therapy options button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling a first session.