Practitioner record · Checked 9 Oct 2026
Donald Giddens has been in practice 40 years and is licensed in Illinois. Donald lists stress, Anxiety, relationship issues and grief among 9 subjects on the BetterHelp roster.
Everything below is either quoted from Donald's own BetterHelp listing, taken from public licensing records, or written by Maker Therapy and labelled as such. Nothing here is an availability promise, a review, or a rating.
01 · Who Donald works with
Donald lists 5 specialisms and 4 further focus areas. Specialisms are the subjects Donald chose to list first, which is the closest a listing gets to “this is my actual practice”.
02 · In Donald's own words
Reproduced in full and unedited - not summarised, not tightened, not rewritten in a house voice.
With over four decades of professional experience, I am a dedicated therapist committed to supporting individuals through life's complex emotional landscapes. My practice centers on helping clients navigate challenges related to depression, anxiety, relationship dynamics, grief, and significant life transitions.
I bring a compassionate and nuanced approach to therapy, understanding that each person's journey is unique. My extensive background allows me to offer deep, empathetic support tailored to individual needs. I strive to create a welcoming, non-judgmental space where clients can explore their experiences, develop resilience, and cultivate meaningful personal growth.
My therapeutic style emphasizes collaboration, respect, and genuine understanding. I am particularly attuned to the diverse needs of individuals seeking support, and I approach each client interaction with sensitivity, professionalism, and genuine care.
Donald Giddens, on the BetterHelp listing · read 9 Oct 2026
03 · How Donald works
These are the clinical methods Donald lists. The descriptions are Maker Therapy's, not Donald's - a general explanation of what each method is, so the list means something before you have spoken to anybody. They are not a claim about how Donald runs a session.
04 · What happens next
Donald practises through BetterHelp, so the route in is BetterHelp's. This is that sequence, written by Maker Therapy from the platform's published process - not a description of Donald's own practice, and not a promise about how quickly anything happens.
BetterHelp opens with a set of questions about what you are dealing with, what you want from therapy, and any preferences on the therapist. You are not booking Donald at this point.
BetterHelp matches algorithmically by default, so asking for Donald is a step you have to take. There is a field for requesting a specific therapist during sign-up, and you can switch afterwards from your account. Starting from a link on this page does not by itself assign you to Donald.
You will be offered somebody else rather than put on a waitlist. Worth knowing, because it is easy to assume a match is the person you asked for.
A first session is typically history and orientation: what brought you, what has been tried, what you want to be different. It is also where the questions in the next section belong.
Changing therapist on BetterHelp does not need a reason. A first session that does not click is common and is not a verdict on therapy. That option existing is the main practical difference between a platform and a private practice.
05 · Before you commit
Built from what Donald actually lists, so they are answerable and specific rather than generic. Maker Therapy's, not Donald's - Donald has not seen them and is under no obligation to answer any of them.
“With 40 years in, what has changed most in how you work?”
Long experience is only an advantage if it has been examined. This tends to surface whether it has.
“How do you handle the gap between sessions if something comes up?”
On BetterHelp this varies a great deal by therapist. Better to know the rhythm now than to discover it on a bad week.
06 · Practical details
07 · Provenance
Donald's name, credential, state, subjects, approaches and biography are read from BetterHelp's therapist roster, which Maker Therapy re-reads once a day; this page reflects the reading taken on 9 Oct 2026. The licence number and NPI are cross-checked against public registers.
The plain-English method descriptions, the first-session walkthrough and the questions are written by Maker Therapy and labelled as such wherever they appear.
Maker Therapy is not BetterHelp, does not take bookings, and has not met Donald. There are no reviews or ratings on this page because we have no way to verify one. If you start therapy through a link here, we may be paid a commission - it does not change your price and it does not affect who appears here or in what order.
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