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Gary Nelson, LCSW

Experienced mental health professional

Provides online counseling through BetterHelp

At a glance

Gary is an experienced, licensed Mental Health Professional who specializes in affordable online therapy offered through our partner, BetterHelp.

4.5 stars
Clients are very satisfied with Gary. View 38 reviews
Speaks English
Offers Telehealth visits
Licensed in Indiana

Recent reviews

Gary is one of the kindest, professional and understanding people I have ever met.

Reviewed November 2024

Gary is one of most kind, compassionate, and empathetic souls I’ve worked with or met. He has been incredibly supportive of me during a time of major transition and stress and met me where I was across a multitude of issues. He employs therapeutic techniques to help me rephrase and gain different perspectives. He helped me feel safe, heard, and more importantly, hopeful. He walked alongside me while I found my path and I’m forever grateful.

Reviewed March 2024

More about Gary

  • 17 years' experience
  • Male
  • LCSW

My name is Gary. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and have been in the field for more than 15 years. I am an associate faculty member with a major, nationally accredited university in Indiana. I have years of experience working with the LGBT community. My main focus of counseling has been with individuals and families, focusing on helping the family and the individual cope better with each other.

A great deal of my experience has been working with persons who identify at LGBT. I believe strongly in the strength of the person, and in doing so I wish to help a person pull from their own strength to improve their lives. I am a personable and laid back person who will not tell you what you want to hear, but instead help you find a voice to help you with just about any personal issues you may face. I look forward to working with you!

Specialties

LGBT Relationship issues Parenting issues Anger management Self esteem Stress Anxiety Addictions Family conflicts Trauma and abuse Grief Intimacy-related issues Sleeping disorders Career difficulties Depression Coping with life changes Coaching Compassion fatigue ADHD Abandonment Adoption and foster care Attachment issues BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture Blended family issues Body image Caregiver issues and stress Chronic pain, illness, and disability Co-morbidity Codependency Commitment issues Communication problems Control issues Divorce and separation Domestic violence Eating and food-related issues Emptiness Family of origin issues Family problems Fatherhood issues Forgiveness Guilt and shame HIV / AIDS Hospice and end-of-life counseling Impulsivity Infidelity Isolation / loneliness Life purpose Men's issues Midlife crisis Money and financial issues Mood disorders Multicultural concerns Narcissism Panic disorder and panic attacks Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships Post-traumatic stress Pregnancy and childbirth Prejudice and discrimination Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Self-harm Self-love Sex addiction Sexual assault and abuse Sexual dysfunction Sexuality Social anxiety and phobia Women's issues Workplace issues Young adult issues

Treatment Approaches

  • Client-Centered Therapy
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Mindfulness Therapy
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Solution-Focused Therapy
  • Trauma-Focused Therapy

Licenses

Gary Nelson's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1558644351.

  • LCSW · Indiana · 34006899A · Expires April 2026

About online counseling

Affordable.
Pay a low flat fee.
Convenient.
Do it at your own time and at your own pace. Communicate whenever you feel it's needed.
Available now.
There is no waiting list and no calls to make. Simply fill out a short questionnaire and send your first message.

Online counseling, also known as teletherapy, is a method of delivering mental health services through digital means such as video conferencing, phone calls, or messaging platforms. It can be an ideal option for individuals who have difficulty accessing traditional therapy due to geographical distance, time constraints, or personal preferences like privacy and comfort. Many people find it easier to open up from the familiarity of their own space.

Teletherapy has been found to be highly effective, with studies showing that it can produce similar outcomes to in-person therapy, particularly for issues like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The flexibility and accessibility it offers make it a valuable alternative to conventional therapy settings.

Reviews for Gary Nelson

All reviews have been submitted by clients after seeing the provider.

Overall rating:

4.5

38 reviews

5
4
3
2
1

Clients mention: Helped Great Helpful Understanding Anxiety Helping Professional Recommend Understand Caring

Gary is one of the kindest, professional and understanding people I have ever met.

Reviewed November 2024

Gary is one of most kind, compassionate, and empathetic souls I’ve worked with or met. He has been incredibly supportive of me during a time of major transition and stress and met me where I was across a multitude of issues. He employs therapeutic techniques to help me rephrase and gain different perspectives. He helped me feel safe, heard, and more importantly, hopeful. He walked alongside me while I found my path and I’m forever grateful.

Reviewed March 2024

I have recommended Gary to a couple of my friend. I don't know if they've called or not. I've stuck with him or he with me for about 5 years +/- so that should say something

Reviewed September 2022

I’ve worked with Gary off and on for awhile. There’s certainly a reason I come back

Reviewed May 2022

Gary has been great in helping me work through some things! Greatly appreciate his help and support!

Reviewed December 2023

I was pretty nervous as this was my first time with the thought of therapy! But he really made me feel welcomed & it calmed my nerves for sure!!

Reviewed November 2023

Gary is amazing! Super responsive!! Has amazing insight on lots of topics and really feels like a friend as much as a therapist. Gary goes out of his way to check in during the week to see how you’re doing. I highly highly recommend Gary!

Reviewed September 2023

In the few sessions that we’ve shared, Gary has really helped me clear some feelings and thoughts that I’ve been holding on to for awhile. He helped me understand what I’ve been feeling. Very much appreciated!

Reviewed May 2023

Working with Gary has been the best thing for my mental health and well being

Reviewed April 2023

I’ve been in therapy most of my adolescent life and a little into my adult years. No matter the therapist, they seemed as if they just truly didn’t care. After 5 years, I found my way to Gary, and I can not believe the contrast between him and the the past experiences I’ve had. While I haven’t known Gary long, I’ve been able to open up bottles I long thought were sealed shut. If you’re questioning, Gary is incredibly insightful, knowledgeable, and knows where to lead you. Wish I had found him years ago.

Reviewed March 2023

Working with Gary was initially anxiety inducing. I had never done therapy before. I didn’t know what to expect, but Gary put a lot of my fears and worries to rest really early. I know he’s invested in my healing. I know he cares about my progress, my struggles. I don’t know where I’d be right now without him, but he’s helped me come up with strategies and steps to work on overcoming anxiety and negative self talk, and recovering my self esteem. I’m endlessly glad I ended up with him as a therapist. He’s understanding, and kind, and funny. I couldn’t think of a better person to help me rediscover how good it feels to be me.

Reviewed June 2021

Does great job. I needed help dealing with career stress. He is helping me think about managing work flow, organization, even sleep habits to lower my overall stress. Had never worked with a counselor before and not what I expected, but what I needed.

Reviewed December 2020

Gary is everything I could ever ask for in a therapist. He is incredibly acute and detailed when it matters. I’m new to therapy. I’ve never felt more validated than when speaking with Gary. I was iffy about BetterHelp but I “got” Gary and I’m sold. I don’t think I could ever try another therapist. Their algorithm with matching patient/professional must be state of the art. I figured therapy would be “helpful,” but I didn’t think it would be THIS helpful; the credit is all Gary’s.

Reviewed November 2020

I absolutely love the therapist I received. He gets me in a way nobody else has. His training has been a godsend to me. I can honestly say that if I had not found BetterHelp and set up with the therapist I was, I would not be here today. No matter how deep of hole you believe your in, therapy works!!

Reviewed May 2020

He has been essential in my healing and my sobriety.

Reviewed June 2019

I absolutely love Gary and how kind-hearted and insightful he is! He challenges me in a gentle way. I’ve had many many therapists, and he’s one that I’ve stuck with the longest. That says a lot!

Reviewed June 2019

I've only had one live session, but I felt like Mr. Nelson was in tune with what I was saying and had good insight.

Reviewed January 2019

I have been working with Gary for a couple years now, and I have never met a greater person than him! He has helped me work through many issues in my life, and has helped me become a stronger person, and to stick up for myself. He encouraged me to do better for myself, and helps me find the strength to keep going on through hard times/situations. I thank God every day for Gary's wisdom, caring and help. He is truly God-sent!!

Reviewed December 2018

Gary is empathetic, understanding and analytical. His advice is sound and rooted in the practical. He has a keen ability to hone in on a problem and cheerfully empower the client to work it out. You feel as if Gary is on your team and rooting for you. He is approachable, affable and patient. All around good guy and solid professional!

Reviewed July 2018

Gary changed my life! He brought me and my girls together in a way I never thought would happen. Our home is so peaceful now, and the relationship I now have with my girls I will cherish forever. Gary has been such a positive support to me and my family. He is very knowledgeable and understanding, and truly cares about every client. He is the first counsellor I have found that listens to understand, not just to reply, and genuinely understood and empathized with my situation. I would highly recommend Gary to anyone! Fantastic Counsellor!

Reviewed June 2018

Amongst his many passions, it is obvious that counseling is more than a job for Gary, but vocation to honor the worth and potential of people of every walks of life. I like that he is kind, competent and easy to relate to, without having to sugar coat things nor abusing of the therapeutic uppercut! Even when he helps me realize those things that are harder to accept, he does so lovingly. My willingness to expose my vulnerability and what I might later come to name as unhelpful beliefs about myself and other people is always rewarded by Gary's frank support. Thank You!

Reviewed May 2018

Gary has been extremely helpful in finding the root cause of my problems, which in turn has helped me turn around my life into an entirely different direction.

Reviewed November 2017

Just getting to know Gary but already feel at-home. He's wonderful!

Reviewed June 2017

Gary is an incredible therapist and human being!! I have been "talking" with Gary almost 8 months, and I have come a long way from where I started in that period of time. Gary doesn't sugar-coat anything, he is very honest with me, and tells me how it is. Recently, while talking, we discovered together a deep-rooted problem and reason for my depression. We are working together on this problem, and Gary is extremely patient with me while doing this. Gary is very caring and supportive and always has encouraging words for me. Gary has been the voice of reason for me when I was ready to give up. He is very understanding and I would trust him enough to tell him anything. He has and is helping me change myself and my thinking for the better!!!

Reviewed May 2017

I was looking for an accountability partner and Gary was awesome! With a large project and massive workload, I needed someone to help me cut through the clutter and stay focussed on my goals. Gary knew the right questions to ask of me, and made sure I kept to my word.

Reviewed February 2017

So far it has been very beneficial to chat with someone on a regular basis. I prefer the video chat option as I feel I can communicate more completely being face to face, as it were. Gary is thoughtful and gentle and provides both an ear to lend helpful suggestions.

Reviewed February 2017

Gary is a wonderful therapist. He is professional, kind, compassionate, understanding, and you can tell he cares about your well-being. I wasn't too sure about this website at first, especially when I was paired with my first therapist, but when I made the switch to Gary, it just felt right. I'm going through a few huge transitions in my life right now, and I genuinely look forward to our weekly sessions because he's been (and continues to be) such a huge help through it all.

Reviewed February 2017

Great person! Great counselor. Checks in often, and is super empathetic. Easy to talk to. Great with LGBTQ issues.

Reviewed November 2016

Gary is a welcome change to my previous therapist. He is attentive, and checks in regularly. He asks direct questions rather than relies on prescribed questionnaires. I recommend him highly.

Reviewed August 2016

Gary has been very helpful to me. He not only listens to what I really have to say, but he also makes me dig deep and encourages a lot of soul searching. He is a great asset to the BetterHelp team. I would recommend him to anyone.

Reviewed July 2016

Gary has been so helpful for me. He works on understanding what I'm saying and what I'm saying. He asks questions to help me come up with my own solutions and better understand myself. Through his guidance I have learned to understand myself and to stay grounded and keep the right perspective. He's introduced me to a lot of great tools to learn to manage my own emotions and help me feel okay with who I am and the decisions I make. Gary as truly done a lot to help me, I'm so glad I found him.

Reviewed July 2016

Gary has helped me change my life in the few months he has worked with me. He has kept me accountable for my emotions and actions. He has opened my mind up to so many things that I have endured and suffered and he made me feel safe to work on my issues from the root cause to who I am today. I feel like I have a safe person who is on my team. He is honest with me and he is caring. I connected with Gary instantly and I owe him so much. He says I did the work but Gary gave me the tools to transform. I am happier, healthier and I am not in pain anymore. Each day is a new beginning. Some days may be difficult and some days may be great but he is there for me through the good and the bad. At my worst and most desperate he was there for a phone call and his words and his logic put my situation into perspective. I was a very broken woman when I came to BetterHelp and to Gary and today I am positive and I am in a much better place. The comfort of not going to sit on some couch in front of some person has been a godsend because I know I can send him a message and I know that he will respond and guide me.

Reviewed May 2016

Gary is an incredibly kind and open person, and in turn has helped me open up about myself and my issues. He gives great perspective on anything I bring up, and more importantly, gives genuine advice on how to deal with specific situations. Every day I look forward to hearing from Gary. Whether it's just a quick catch up or a deep conversation, it's always a pleasure to speak with him. I am looking forward to continuing our sessions!

Reviewed May 2016

I love his feedback. He doesn't just listen and do the typical counseling comments like...."how did that make u feel"; or "tell me more about that". He actually gave me advice. He gave me feedback that I could apply to my life. He truly has become my life coach. I look forward to my messages from him everyday. I've been in a very dark place for a very long time. Gary has thrown a rope down to me in this deep dark hole I'm in.

Reviewed May 2016

Gary has been helping me to reset my perception of myself. It's challenging to follow his advice, but the rewards are there. He is the first therapist I've had that I feel truly helped by.

Reviewed April 2016

So far Gary Nelson has been extremely helpful in my goal to beat or just get rid of anxiety. He has opened my eyes and mind to new ways of thinking about different situations and different ways to go about them and to think about them which has reduced a lot of my anxiety. It's going to take me a long time and a lot of practice to be ultimately a master of controlling my thoughts and my fears but right now I feel like I'm on a very good track to reach my goal which is to be anxiety free to the most that any human person can be.

Reviewed April 2016

I had no idea how this online therapy thing was going to be. But I figured 7 days free why not? Even a month paid was cheaper than seeing a therapist in person a few times so I thought I would give it a shot. If anything, money spent on my mental well being is the best possible money you could spend. I don't know if it was just luck or this app's ability to pair people but they paired me with the perfect person! Gary was patient and so nonjudgmental and understanding to talk to about some of my most inner battles. Honestly if it wasn't for him and one message he sent me that helped change my perspective to what it is now I would still be suffering from this heavy heavy issue I had lingering for years. I really appreciate him talking to me and helping me sift through my thoughts.

Reviewed March 2016

If you need a rock talk to, Gary Nelson is smart, attentive, and helpful. Five stars.

Reviewed January 2016

How was your experience with Gary?

Frequently asked questions

Does Gary Nelson offer telehealth visits?

Yes. Gary Nelson works with clients by exchanging messages, chatting live, speaking over the phone, or video conferencing based on what works for the client at that particular time.

What language(s) does Gary Nelson speak?

Gary Nelson speaks English.

How many years of experience does Gary Nelson have?

Gary Nelson has 17 years of experience.

Where is Gary Nelson licensed to practice?

Gary Nelson is licensed to practice in Indiana.

Does Gary Nelson accept clients outside of the United States?

No, Gary Nelson does not accept clients outside of the United States.

Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?

Numerous studies support the effectiveness of online platforms in facilitating life changes. For instance, research published by JMIR Publications, conducted by teams from the University of Berkeley, UCSF, and SF General Hospital, found that "users of BetterHelp experienced significantly reduced depression symptom severity after engaging with the platform."

What treatment approaches does Gary Nelson offer?

Gary Nelson offers clients Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Trauma-Focused Therapy.

How can I communicate with Gary Nelson?

Gary Nelson can be engaged in any one of four ways: (1) Exchanging messages, (2) chatting live, (3) speaking over the phone, or (4) video conferencing. You can use different ways at different times as you wish, based on your needs, availability, and convenience.

How do I get started with Gary Nelson?

Just tap the CHAT NOW button or tap here: A new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.

Mental health conditions are real, common, and treatable.

And recovery is possible.

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When you tap CHAT NOW a new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.