Deanna Daniels
My name is Deanna Daniels, and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Las Vegas, Nevada, with over 10 years of experience in mental health. I work with adults across the lifespan, supporting individuals navigating depression, trauma, life transitions, and concerns related to self-esteem, self-love, and identity. My experience includes working with active-duty service members, veterans, and Black men and women. I also support athletes and student-athletes in balancing life and sports, navigating performance pressures, and building mental skills to improve performance and well-being. As a former college athlete, I bring personal understanding to this work. My background includes crisis intervention, significant trauma, and one-time fitness-for-duty and occupational readiness evaluations. My approach is holistic, collaborative, and culturally responsive. I incorporate cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and somatic practices to explore connections between your thoughts, emotions, body, and experiences. Spiritual perspectives can also be included when they align with your beliefs and preferences. My style is comforting, nonjudgmental, and honest, with room for humor and meaningful challenges. I believe therapy should offer both support and opportunities for growth. Together, we will explore patterns, build on your strengths, and identify steps that reflect your values and goals. My hope is that our work helps you develop greater self-awareness, strengthen your voice, and approach decisions with clarity and confidence. We can work toward processing difficult emotions, managing stressors, and building coping skills that fit your life. Above all, I want you to feel supported as you deepen your relationship with yourself and move toward a life that feels authentic, meaningful, and aligned with who you are and what matters most. You deserve space to grow beyond expectations, reconnect with your needs, and define success in ways that honor your whole self.
First session
Our first session is an opportunity for you to feel seen, heard, and begin getting comfortable with the therapy process. We will complete an intake, exploring what brings you to therapy, your background, and what you hope to gain. You do not need to have everything figured out—we can begin identifying your goals together. I will explain what I am assessing and why, review confidentiality and its limits, and introduce the therapeutic approaches we may use based on your needs. You will also have space to ask questions and consider whether my style feels like a good fit. My goal is for you to leave with a clearer understanding of the process and our next steps together.
Strengths
I bring cultural responsiveness, honesty, humor, and a nonjudgmental presence to my sessions. I create space for you to feel understood while helping you explore alternative perspectives and gently challenging patterns that may no longer serve you. My background in crisis intervention and de-escalation helps me offer calm, grounded support during overwhelming moments. What makes my approach distinctive is that I see you as a whole person—not just a set of symptoms. I take time to understand your passions, cultural experiences, relationships, and how you learn and process the world. I adapt my approach to you rather than expecting you to fit a particular style of therapy. I also recognize the importance of connection and physical activity in emotional well-being. Through somatic practices, I help you notice how emotions and stress show up in your body, creating additional ways to process experiences alongside conversation. Together, we build on your strengths and develop practical tools that feel meaningful and relevant to your life.
Ideal clients
My ideal client is someone who is open to being thoughtfully challenged and willing to explore the possibility of change. You do not need to have everything figured out, know exactly what you want, or feel confident about where to begin. I welcome uncertainty and believe we can work together to find clarity. Bring your questions, your hesitation, and your willingness to explore—we can work through the rest together, at a pace that respects your needs.
Origin story
My passion for helping others, empowering people, and holding space for their experiences drew me to become a therapist. I know how it feels to believe you have no one, and my own life experiences have deepened my compassion and ability to connect with others. While everyone’s story is different, I bring both professional knowledge and lived experience to my work, creating a space where you can feel seen, heard, and supported without judgment. My experience as a college athlete also shaped my path and sparked my passion for supporting athletes. Having experienced the demands of collegiate sports and witnessed the need for mental health support within that community, I understand the importance of seeing the person beyond their performance. These experiences continue to inspire me to help people find their voice, recognize their worth, and feel less alone as they navigate life’s challenges.
Ongoing work together
Our work together begins with building trust and connection so you feel comfortable being yourself. We will explore what matters most to you, clarify your values, and identify where you want to focus. Along the way, we will check in on your readiness for change and work at a pace that balances comfort with opportunities for growth. Together, we will identify meaningful actions toward your goals and navigate the ups and downs that come with change. My role is to support you in developing greater self-awareness, practical skills, and confidence in your own voice and decisions. Ultimately, my goal is to work myself out of a job—helping you build the trust in yourself to move forward without needing ongoing support from me.