Dana Furtado
I believe deeply in the strength and resilience of the human spirit. My approach to therapy is grounded in the belief that greater self-awareness gives us greater freedom: when we understand the experiences, beliefs, and patterns that shape us, we become less governed by automatic reactions and more able to consciously choose how we respond. I am also deeply spiritual and believe that lasting joy and fulfillment are ultimately found in our relationship with and pursuit of God. I welcome clients in exploring their own spirituality, faith, values, and sense of meaning when these are important to their healing and growth. My hope is to create a space where clients can develop greater insight, reconnect with their strengths, and move toward a life that feels both authentic and purposeful.
First session
First session is briefly discussing what is bringing you into session (we typically don't go too deep first session). We usually complete a full intake, which is a lot of questions often required by platforms and/or insurance companies. Some of them will apply to you and some won't. I try to move through this quickly to give you ample time to share your hopes for the therapeutic journey. I also explain a bit about me and my approach to therapy, offer time for any questions you might have. I try to keep our first session easy, approachable, and light-hearted.
Strengths
I bring warmth, curiosity, humor, and a deeply human perspective to the therapy room. I take the time to truly get to know you and walk alongside you rather than sitting back and studying /analyzing you as some may imagine a "therapist" to be. We are all part of the same human story; our struggles with love, loss, fear, identity, and belonging have been explored through art and literature for centuries. None of us gets through life without some bruises. I invite curiosity rather than judgment, because I believe that when we can look at ourselves with greater compassion and a little more humor, we create the freedom to heal, grow, and become more fully ourselves.
Ideal clients
My ideal client is someone who is curious about themselves and willing to look beneath the surface—not necessarily someone who has it all figured out, but someone who wants to understand themselves more deeply and live more intentionally. They may be navigating relationships, life transitions, anxiety, self-doubt, or simply a sense that something needs to change. I especially enjoy working with thoughtful, capable people who may look like they’re “doing fine” on the outside while privately feeling stuck, disconnected, or overwhelmed. Together, we explore the patterns that shape them, develop greater self-compassion and choice, and create a life that feels more authentic, meaningful, and aligned with who they are becoming.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
My baseline approach is Cognitive Behavioral, meaning the more we observe and understand how our internal dialogue (the story we tell ourselves about any given scenario) impacts our behaviors and can create a constant feedback loop that keeps us stuck, the more we can transcend and/or re-write this narrative and grow.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
Other specialties
Serves
Licensed in
- CaliforniaLicense 109940