- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- DBT informed skills
About Derek
Derek Bonds is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with 17 years of experience based in Colorado. He works with stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, anger, grief, relationship and family concerns, and career-related stress. Derek also helps people struggling with compassion fatigue, life changes, and questions about purpose.
He holds a master's degree in Mental Health Counseling from Montana State University - Billings and has worked in schools, on a college campus, and in outpatient settings. He has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in psychology and counseling and supervised graduate interns and an outpatient therapy department.
In sessions Derek assumes clients know themselves best and treats their goals as the starting point. He offers clear feedback, encouragement, and practical options. He emphasizes building hope and noticing small changes that shift mood and motivation.
Therapeutic methods he uses include acceptance and commitment work, cognitive behavioral strategies, dialectical behavior ideas, client-centered practices, and existential discussion. These approaches are used to address emotional regulation, unhelpful thinking patterns, and values-based decisions.
Sessions focus on concrete skills and conversations that help people change what they can and accept what they cannot. Derek helps clients identify workable next steps, try them in real life, and review what did and did not help. The work aims to reduce overwhelming feelings and increase direction rather than promising quick fixes.
How Derek uses therapeutic approaches online
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people notice what matters to them and take small actions in line with those values rather than getting stuck in painful thoughts. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and uses practical exercises to change patterns that increase anxiety or anger. Client-centered work means conversations that center the client's experience and preferences, offering reflective listening and collaboration on the next steps.Finding the right mix of methods is part of the work. Derek will discuss goals, try approaches, and adjust based on what fits the client's needs and preferences. This is a collaborative process in which the therapist and client review what helps and what needs to change.
The original biography does not list specific online session formats, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, support shorter check-ins when schedules demand it, and avoid travel time. Some approaches lend themselves to practical at-home exercises and real-life experiments that are easier to try between sessions when working remotely. Ask about format details when scheduling to pick what works best for day-to-day life.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
17+ years
Listed in
Colorado, Montana
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does he help with?
He works with stress, anxiety, depression, anger, grief, relationship and family issues, career concerns, and related challenges like compassion fatigue and life transitions.
What is his therapeutic approach or style?
He uses a mix of acceptance and commitment work, client-centered conversation, cognitive behavioral techniques, and dialectical behavior ideas to address emotions and behaviors.
How much experience does he have?
He has 17 years of professional experience in counseling, teaching, and clinical supervision.
What credentials and where is he located?
He is an LPC and an LCPC and practices from Colorado.
Can I work with him if I live outside the United States?
He accepts international clients and offers sessions in English.
Which session formats are offered?
The original biography does not list specific session formats; confirm current session options before booking.
How are session costs handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with therapy?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.