SEAN MCDONALD
MA, LPC, CSAT, CMAT, Clinical Director
Sean McDonald is the owner of Waterstone Counseling Center where he is the Director of the Sexual Addiction Recovery program that helps individuals, couples, and families in Northwest Arkansas find hope and healing. Sean understands the importance of having a safe and confidential counselor that can help you work through challenges in your life. It was almost 20 years ago that he sought out the help of a skilled counselor who helped him navigate through the pain and consequences of his own emotional distress and addiction. Sean is passionate about helping men and women experience this same healing and joy in their lives. His desire to help people find hope and freedom is driven by his faith in God and personal experience of going through recovery for sexual addiction. This journey led him to leave the business world and begin working full time in recovery ministry and eventually into professional counseling.
Sean has a Master of Arts in Counseling from Denver Seminary and also holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Arkansas. He has been trained under some of the great leaders in the sexual addiction and sexual therapy fields, such as Patrick Carnes, Mark Laaser, Jay Stringer, Clifford and Joyce Penner and Doug Rosenau.
Sean is a Certified Sexual Addiction Therapist (CSAT) and Certified Multiple Addiction Therapist (CMAT) through the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals (IITAP). He is a Certified Sex Therapist through the American Board of Christian Sex Therapists (ABCST). He has been trained in emotion-focused therapy (EFT) to work with individuals and couples. He has trained at the Experiential Training Institute at ONSITE workshops in Nashville, TN where he was able to observe, learn, and lead with industry peers who have extensive knowledge in the techniques and best practices in group therapy. Sean enjoys utilizing his hands-on training and experience by facilitating men’s therapy groups at Waterstone.
Sean served as the Director of a recovery ministry at a church where he gained valuable experience working with individuals and couples who were encountering a wide range of issues. He has experience counseling college students and adults at a private practice in Denver, Colorado prior to starting Waterstone Counseling Center in 2012.
Sean works with individuals who struggle with sexual addiction, pornography addiction, sexual identity, sexual shame and trauma, marital infidelity, and other intimacy related disorders. He also works with spouses/partners and families of sex addicts as well as individuals who struggle with anxiety, anger, and depression. Sean also leads men’s therapy groups.
Sean has been married to his wife since 2005 and is the proud father of three children. He is an avid Razorback fan who enjoys traveling and being outdoors, especially when it involves mountain biking, skiing and playing pickleball.