Mark O'Laughlin

Mark O'Laughlin is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with 20 years of experience. He helps people who are feeling overwhelmed by stress, anger, anxiety, depression, or big life changes. He also supports those dealing with substance struggles, relationship trouble, sleep problems, parenting strain, and career questions.

Mark keeps things straightforward in sessions. He looks for each person’s strengths and builds from there. He listens openly and chooses approaches that fit the client’s needs rather than using a single method for everyone.

In practice he often uses cognitive behavioral therapy, client-centered techniques, mindfulness, Jungian ideas, and skills training. These tools are used to address patterns of thought, emotional reactions, and behavior that cause day-to-day problems. Skills work can include breathing, grounding, and practical steps to manage strong feelings.

He has run groups focused on substance use and has a long history helping people with addiction-related concerns. Relationship work may draw on communication skills and elements of the Gottman Method when helpful for the person sitting in front of him.

Mark describes his role as a partner in the process. He blends clinical approaches with everyday strategies so clients can try new ways of coping between sessions. Outside of counseling he composes music and spends time outdoors, which he says keeps him grounded.

How his approaches translate to online therapy

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and helping people identify their own goals. It emphasizes understanding the person and building on their strengths to make changes that feel right. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors connect and teaches practical exercises to change unhelpful patterns. CBT is often used for anxiety, depression, anger, and stress. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) emphasizes skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and better interpersonal communication, which can help with intense emotions and relationship struggles.

Choosing the right approach is a shared process. The therapist works with each person to pick methods that match their goals and day-to-day needs, and adjusts those approaches as therapy progresses. Clients can expect a collaborative conversation about what feels useful and what needs to change.

Because session formats are not listed here, confirm the current online options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time so therapy can happen between other commitments. It also lets therapists assign practical exercises and follow-up skills to practice between meetings, which supports steady progress.