Dana Tackett-Gesser
I am Dana Tackett-Gesser, LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker). I believe therapy should feel safe, supportive, and human. I offer a warm, straightforward space where you can talk openly and feel understood. I help clients navigate anxiety, trauma, overwhelming stress and many other mental health needs using practical tools and a calm, steady approach. My goal is to help you feel more stable, more empowered, and more in control of your life.
First session
Our first session is a chance for us to slow down and get comfortable with each other. I focus on building rapport through steady listening, curiosity, and a completely non‑judgmental presence. We’ll talk about what’s been weighing on you, explore your strengths, and identify the supports you already have in your life. I’ll help you clarify your goals and what you hope to change, and together we’ll create a plan that fits your timeline, your capacity, and the realities of your life. My aim is for you to leave that first session feeling heard, understood, and supported in a way that feels grounding and hopeful.
Strengths
I bring a balanced therapeutic style that allows me to hold steady, supportive space while also guiding clients toward difficult but necessary truths. I challenge with intention and care, offering feedback that is compassionate, straightforward, and grounded in respect. My clinical background includes training in motivational interviewing, Seeking Safety, trauma‑informed care, and specialized work in addictions treatment. I am currently expanding my skill set through somatic therapy certification to deepen mind‑body integration in my work. I am a tenacious learner and a natural storyteller, and I use these strengths to help clients make meaning, build insight, and stay engaged in the therapeutic process. I value open dialogue and thoughtful debate, and I bring curiosity, clarity, and consistency to every session.
Ideal clients
My ideal client is someone moving through a challenging season of life—whether that’s stress at work or school, relationship strain, a new diagnosis, or the weight of a serious illness. They may be navigating unfamiliar systems or exploring their relationship with substances, and they’re looking for steady support and genuine connection. What matters most is a willingness to grow, to build resilience, and to explore new ways of caring for themselves. I aim to offer hope, encouragement, and a grounded therapeutic relationship that helps them feel supported as they move toward clarity and meaningful change.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as a practical, collaborative tool to help you understand the connection between your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. In our work together, we’ll gently explore the patterns that keep you feeling stuck and identify the beliefs or habits that may be adding to your stress or distress. CBT gives us a structured way to notice what’s happening internally, challenge what no longer serves you, and practice new skills that support healthier coping. I integrate CBT in a way that feels steady and compassionate — not rigid or overwhelming. We may use thought‑tracking, grounding skills, reframing exercises, or small pieces of homework to help you apply what you’re learning outside of session. Over time, CBT becomes a supportive framework for building insight, strengthening resilience, and creating meaningful, sustainable change in your daily life.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
I integrate mindfulness‑based therapy to help clients slow down, reconnect with their bodies, and become more aware of their internal experiences without judgment. In our work, we practice noticing thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations with curiosity rather than criticism. This awareness creates space for choice, grounding, and calmer responses to stress. Mindfulness becomes a practical tool we weave into daily life—through breathwork, grounding exercises, present‑moment awareness, and gentle reflection. Over time, these practices help reduce reactivity, strengthen emotional regulation, and support a deeper sense of clarity and resilience. My approach is steady, compassionate, and accessible, allowing mindfulness to feel supportive rather than overwhelming.
Motivational Interviewing
In practice, MI often sounds like curiosity, encouragement, and thoughtful challenges delivered with respect. We work together to strengthen your confidence, clarify your goals, and create realistic steps toward change. Whether you’re navigating stress, addiction, or a major life transition, MI supports you in becoming the expert of your own life and building motivation that feels authentic and sustainable.
Gender-affirming therapy
I use a gender‑affirming approach that centers each person’s lived experience, identity, and autonomy. In our work together, you can expect a space that is respectful, validating, and free of judgment. I support clients in exploring their identity, navigating transitions, and managing the emotional impact of social, medical, or relational stressors. My role is to listen deeply, honor your truth, and help you build the skills and resilience you need while moving at a pace that feels right for you. Gender‑affirming therapy becomes a collaborative process rooted in safety, empowerment, and genuine connection.
Narrative
I use Narrative Therapy to help clients explore the stories they carry about themselves, their relationships, and their experiences. Together, we look at how these stories were formed, where they may be limiting or painful, and where your strengths and resilience show up. Narrative work allows us to separate you from the problem, giving space to see your identity as larger and more powerful than the challenges you’re facing. In practice, this means we talk through the themes, patterns, and meanings that shape your life, and we gently re‑author the parts that no longer serve you. I help you identify alternative stories—ones rooted in capability, hope, and growth—and integrate them into your daily life. Narrative Therapy becomes a collaborative process of reclaiming your voice, strengthening your sense of self, and creating a more empowering path forward. This is probably one of my favorite therapies to work with.
Location
Virtual sessions
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Licensed in
- IndianaLicense 34010047A