By Dr. Steven O. Evans, PHD

OutClique: Congratulations on the publication of your book, Diminishing (Your) Worry and Stress. When did you decide to become an author?

Doug Nelson: I am very much still a clinician by day and periodically tap into writing skills honed while working for the Writing Center at Bucknell University during college.  Gathering a few blog articles written over the past decade provided an early draft of the book during Spring 2023.

OutClique: Then what happened?

Doug Nelson:  A few colleagues and some trusted allies who are not therapists provided some very helpful constructive feedback after I finished more revisions last summer.  Then Rachel Cornwell, a long-time friend from Washington DC, introduced me to her publisher. She had written Daring Adventures: Helping Gender-Diverse Kids and their Families Thrive.

OutClique: So does the publisher focus solely on LGBTQ+ material?

Doug Nelson: They are not LGBTQ+ exclusive, however, ACTA Publications stands for “A Commitment to All.”  Their roster includes books focused on Parenting, Social Justice, Scripture & Religion, Sports Books and Cookbooks. Although Diminishing (Your) Worry and Stress includes some stories about LGBTQ+ clients and my own challenges when first coming out of the closet, the intended audience of the book is any adult coping with the daily stresses associated with everyday life. 

OutClique: The book begins with a personal story about you in the fourth grade, starts in an autobiographical direction, and then seems to shift into stories about clients. How did you decide on that format?

Doug Nelson: The crux of the book is about clients successfully applying concepts utilized in sessions to reduce worry and stress in their own lives across a wide range of subjects and life events. The beginning of the book allows the reader to learn some of my history and to hopefully establish my credibility both as a therapist and as a human being.

OutClique: Many therapists depicted in media are known for asking a lot of questions but rarely sharing any information about themselves. We were surprised by the book’s first few stories being about you. Did you hesitate to include them?

Doug Nelson: Therapists are taught to avoid self-disclosure, to keep the focus of counseling sessions on the clients and their presenting concerns. However, when initially establishing rapport with a new client, some inquire whether I struggle with worry and stress as well, just to ensure that I am human too. 

OutClique: Any noticeable differences with your LGBTQ+ clients?

Doug Nelson: Many LGBTQ+ clients ask whether I am gay before trusting me with their presenting concerns. I appreciate the number of allies amongst the professional therapy community who work with LGBTQ+ clients, but sometimes, a client feels more comfortable knowing their therapist identifies LGBTQ+ too.  

OutClique: What areas does your counseling practice focus on?

Doug Nelson: I strive to help adults seeking out services with a variety of presenting concerns. One specialty is helping clientele in their first two years of recovery following substance abuse treatment, and another is working with couples who have hit a fork in the road with their relationship or marriage. Utilizing cognitive therapy techniques, several clients work on reducing the intensity and discomfort of anxiety or depressive symptoms.

OutClique: There is a chapter, “Stop Shoulding on Yourself,” that must be one of the stories about cognitive therapy.

Doug Nelson: Exactly. Cognitive therapy is about shifting negative thinking patterns into more affirming, constructive patterns of thinking. And yes, that chapter includes some success stories where cognitive therapy was utilized.

OutClique:  Any other specialties?

Doug Nelson: Some clients address bereavement, whether that is the result of the death of a loved one, the loss of a marriage or partnership, or the loss of a job or business. Also, over the past three years, several fathers, whether heterosexual or gay, have sought therapy addressing their roles as parents of teens, college students, or young adults, following the COVID pandemic and the other recent challenges in our politically charged environment.

OutClique: So how do you avoid “all work and no play” reputation of a medical or mental health professional?

Doug Nelson: Enjoying shared meals with trusted allies after work, exercising regularly, even though I miss playing volleyball after a knee injury, and taking an occasional walk by the Intracoastal or beach to breathe in the beauty of our local home.

OutClique: Congratulations on the book’s publication. How does a prospective reader get the book?

Doug Nelson: Readers can go to the ACTA Publications website (www.ACTAPublications.com) where getting a second book from their publishing house often results in free shipping or readers may purchase from Amazon. 

OutClique: Again, congratulations Doug. I know this will be a very useful tool for so many.

Doug Nelson:  Thank you for the opportunity to share the news in OutClique!

Doug Nelson is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) at Fort Lauderdale CFI.  

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