Daniel Jennings
My name is Daniel, and I’m a licensed clinical social worker in Illinois. I’ve been providing mental health care for more than 25 years. No matter your background, income, or the unique combination of factors that shape your identity, one thing is certain: life doesn’t follow a script. It can turn on a dime, bringing moments that are joyful, devastating, or somewhere in between. In those moments, it's not uncommon to feel unprepared, alone, or overwhelmed, unsure of what to do next. My role is to help you navigate those turning points. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, sadness, depression, grief, or self-doubt, I help clients address the emotional impact of change and build healthier ways to cope. Sometimes those struggles show up as trouble with motivation, communication, relationships, or substance use. But they don’t happen in a vacuum. Everything we go through is shaped by our current context, including age, gender, sexual identity, relationship status, job stress, physical health, or financial strain. For real change to take hold, we need to understand how these pieces connect.
Everything we go through is shaped by our current context, including age, gender, sexual identity, relationship status, job stress, physical health, or financial strain.
I work collaboratively with clients and take care to create a space where you can speak freely and feel safe doing so. It takes courage to reach for something better, and even more to act on it. I'm here to walk with you as you begin that process.
First session
Our first session is an opportunity for us to get to know one another and begin exploring what brought you to therapy. I’ll be interested in hearing about what’s happening in your life, what you’ve been struggling with, and what you’re hoping might be different. We’ll talk about your current circumstances, relevant parts of your personal history, and any previous experiences you’ve had with therapy. I’ll ask questions along the way, but this isn’t an interview, and there’s no expectation that you’ll be able to explain everything perfectly or share more than you’re comfortable discussing. I also want you to have an opportunity to get a sense of me, how I work, and whether you feel comfortable talking with me. Finding a therapist who feels like a good fit is important, and that decision belongs to you as much as it does to me. By the end of our first conversation, my hope is that we’ll have a better understanding of what you’d like to work on and how we might approach it together. We don’t need to figure everything out in one session. That’s what the sessions that follow are for.
Strengths
Helping people who are struggling with aspects of their sexual identity also represents an area of particular strength for me, as I offer a space which is free of judgment or expectation of conformity to dominant social constructs which can be the source of many unnecessary obstacles for people.
Ideal clients
Working with people who have problems with self-confidence and self-esteem has always felt especially important to me. It's common to minimize the effects these self-image problems can have, although they have impacted virtually every person at some point in their life. Often cultivated by issues within the family system of origin, these can leave individuals without a clear sense of themselves, their needs, or their desires, which are all necessary in order to live a fulfilling life.
Origin story
I became a therapist because I’ve always felt drawn to understanding people, how we become who we are, how we survive what happens to us, and how we find our way forward as we face life’s inevitable challenges. I always knew I wanted a career focused on helping others, and after many years of experience, every session is a reminder of the profound privilege it is to be invited alongside someone as they explore their life, their relationships, and who they are, free of shame.
Ongoing work together
As we continue working together, our conversations will build on what we’re learning about you, your experiences, and the challenges you’re facing. Some sessions may focus on something happening in your life right now, while others may lead us to explore experiences from your past or patterns you’ve begun to recognize. There isn’t a rigid formula for how this unfolds. We’ll regularly revisit what you’re hoping to accomplish and whether our work is helping you get there. Progress can take many forms. Sometimes it’s a noticeable reduction in anxiety or depression, or finding yourself better able to manage situations that once felt overwhelming. Other times, the changes are less obvious at first. You may begin recognizing familiar patterns before repeating them, become more comfortable expressing your needs, or find yourself responding differently to situations that previously left you feeling stuck. I also believe it’s important to recognize that progress doesn’t always happen in a straight line. There will be times when things feel better and others when familiar struggles resurface. Both can be valuable parts of the process. What matters is that we’re continuing to develop a clearer understanding of your experiences and helping you make changes that feel meaningful in your life.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use CBT to help clients identify and reframe unhelpful thought patterns that contribute to emotional distress and behavioral challenges. Together, we examine the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions in a practical, collaborative way. I integrate CBT flexibly, often blending it with deeper insight-oriented work so that it addresses both surface-level symptoms and longer-term internal struggles.
Psychodynamic
My psychodynamic work focuses on exploring how early experiences, unconscious processes, and unresolved conflicts influence current relationships, emotional responses, and self-perception. I help clients recognize patterns that may be playing out in their lives so they can develop more freedom and agency. This approach is particularly useful for clients seeking a deeper understanding of themselves and their relational histories.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
At the core of my practice is a deeply human, nonjudgmental approach grounded in respect, authenticity, and empathy. I provide a safe space where clients can explore their experiences and values without fear of shame or evaluation. My person-centered stance helps clients reconnect with their inner clarity and develop the confidence to move forward in alignment with their truest selves.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
When appropriate, I integrate mindfulness-based tools to help clients cultivate greater awareness of their thoughts, emotions, and physical states. These practices can be especially helpful for managing anxiety, trauma responses, and emotional reactivity. I emphasize grounding techniques, interoceptive awareness, and nonjudgmental observation to support emotional regulation.
Trauma-Informed Care
My work is grounded in a trauma-informed framework, which means I prioritize safety, empowerment, and collaboration in every session. I am attentive to how trauma, including complex, developmental, and relational trauma, can shape beliefs, coping mechanisms, and identity. Whether using somatic anchoring, psychoeducation, or narrative processing, I tailor interventions to avoid re-traumatization and promote healing at a pace that feels manageable.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
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Licensed in
- IllinoisLicense 149008703