(she/her)
Often rebooked
Hi, I'm Danielle Dickson, a Licensed Professional Counselor who believes that every behavior, emotion, and coping strategy has a story worth understanding. My passion is helping adults move beyond simply managing symptoms to truly understanding themselves, because lasting healing begins with self-awareness. Whether you're struggling with anxiety, trauma, depression, chronic stress, relationship difficulties, life transitions, emotional overwhelm, or feeling disconnected from who you are, therapy can provide a space to slow down, make sense of your experiences, and create meaningful, lasting change. Many of the people I work with have spent years trying to "fix" themselves. They've read the books, listened to the podcasts, tried coping skills, or even been in therapy before, yet still find themselves repeating the same emotional patterns or relationships. They often understand *what* they're experiencing but not *why* it keeps happening. That curiosity—the desire to understand yourself rather than simply silence symptoms—is where meaningful healing begins. My approach is collaborative, trauma-informed, and grounded in evidence-based psychotherapy. I integrate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), mindfulness, somatic awareness, and neuroscience-informed interventions to help you better understand the connection between your thoughts, emotions, behaviors, relationships, and nervous system. Together, we'll explore the patterns that have shaped your life with curiosity instead of judgment, so you can begin responding from your values rather than automatic survival strategies. Above all, I believe therapy is about helping you know yourself more fully, understand yourself more compassionately, and create a life that feels authentic, intentional, and aligned with your values.
**What to Expect in Your First Session** Beginning therapy can feel exciting, intimidating, or somewhere in between. It's completely normal to wonder what the first appointment will be like or worry about saying the "right" thing. My goal is to make the first session feel structured, collaborative, and supportive while giving us both an opportunity to determine whether we're a good fit to work together. We'll begin with a comprehensive intake conversation using a structured question-and-answer format. I'll ask about the concerns that brought you to therapy, your personal history, relationships, family experiences, medical and mental health history, previous counseling experiences, strengths, coping strategies, and what you hope will be different as a result of therapy. While there are important assessment questions that help me develop an accurate clinical understanding, I also want to learn about you as a person—not simply the symptoms you're experiencing. You never have to tell your story all at once. Therapy isn't about forcing yourself to relive painful experiences before you're ready. We move at a pace that feels safe while still working toward meaningful growth. Some clients are eager to share everything immediately, while others need time to build trust. Both approaches are completely okay. As we talk, I'll begin identifying themes and patterns that may be contributing to your current struggles. Rather than viewing problems in isolation, I consider the broader context of your life—your relationships, past experiences, nervous system responses, thought patterns, values, strengths, and the environments that have shaped you. This helps us develop treatment goals that address not only the symptoms you're experiencing today but also the underlying factors that continue to influence them. One of the things clients often appreciate about working with me is that I enjoy teaching. Throughout therapy, I'll frequently explain how the brain, nervous system, trauma, attachment, emotions, learning, and behavior interact because I believe understanding ourselves reduces shame and empowers change. My hope is that you'll leave sessions not only feeling heard but also learning something meaningful about yourself. By the end of our first session, we'll have a clearer understanding of what brings you to therapy, what goals feel most important, and how we can begin working together. Therapy is a collaborative process, and I value your feedback throughout treatment. If something isn't working, we'll adjust. If something resonates, we'll build upon it. My role isn't to tell you who you should become; it's to help you discover the healthiest and most authentic version of yourself while providing the clinical tools and support to help you get there.
**What Makes My Approach Different** One of my greatest strengths as a therapist is my ability to see patterns. Clients frequently tell me that I help them connect pieces of their story they had never considered before, allowing experiences that once felt confusing or unrelated to suddenly make sense. Rather than focusing only on the immediate problem, I work to understand the larger picture—how your experiences, relationships, beliefs, emotions, behaviors, biology, and nervous system all interact to shape the life you're living today. I believe insight is one of the most powerful catalysts for change. While coping skills are important, they often become far more effective when you understand *why* you're struggling in the first place. Anxiety, depression, perfectionism, people-pleasing, emotional avoidance, relationship conflict, chronic stress, and even self-criticism usually developed for understandable reasons. Together we'll explore those reasons with curiosity instead of judgment, helping you respond with greater awareness rather than automatic reactions. Because no two people are alike, I don't believe in one-size-fits-all therapy. I draw from multiple evidence-based approaches—including CBT, DBT, ACT, IFS, mindfulness, neuroscience-informed interventions, and trauma-focused therapies—to create treatment that fits your unique needs, personality, goals, and learning style. Sometimes therapy is highly practical and skill-based. Other times it involves exploring unresolved emotional experiences, changing long-standing patterns, strengthening relationships, processing trauma, or reconnecting with the values that give your life meaning. Most often, it is a combination of both. Clients also appreciate that I balance warmth with honesty. I'll validate your experiences while gently challenging the beliefs and patterns that may be keeping you stuck. Therapy isn't about agreeing with everything you think or feel—it's about helping you see yourself more clearly, increasing psychological flexibility, and empowering you to make intentional choices that align with the life you want to build. Above all, I strive to create a therapeutic relationship built on trust, authenticity, curiosity, and mutual respect. I believe healing happens when people feel safe enough to be fully themselves while also being challenged to grow. My hope is that our work together helps you move beyond surviving life and toward understanding yourself more deeply, living more intentionally, and creating lasting change that extends well beyond the therapy room.
My ideal clients are adults who want more than temporary symptom relief—they want to understand themselves on a deeper level and create lasting, meaningful change. They may be struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, chronic stress, burnout, emotional dysregulation, relationship difficulties, life transitions, or the lingering effects of painful experiences. Many feel stuck in repetitive patterns, overwhelmed by their emotions, disconnected from themselves, or frustrated that despite their best efforts, they continue to face the same challenges. Many have already invested significant time and energy into their personal growth. They've read self-help books, listened to podcasts, practiced coping strategies, or participated in previous therapy, yet still find themselves asking, *"Why do I keep ending up here?"* They often understand what they're experiencing but want to better understand why it continues to happen and how to create change that lasts. The clients who benefit most from working with me are curious, open to self-exploration, and willing to look beneath the surface. They value insight as much as practical tools and appreciate learning how their thoughts, emotions, nervous system, relationships, and life experiences interact. They want a therapist who will not only listen, but also help them recognize patterns, connect the dots, and understand themselves with greater clarity and compassion. Whether your goal is healing from trauma, reducing anxiety, strengthening relationships, navigating a difficult life transition, improving emotional regulation, or simply feeling more connected to yourself, therapy can provide the opportunity to better understand the patterns that have shaped your life and develop healthier, more intentional ways of moving forward. My hope is that our work together helps you know yourself more fully, understand yourself more deeply, and build a life that feels authentic, purposeful, and aligned with your values.
Cash - $150 per session
Aetna
Aetna - Allied Benefits
Aetna - ASR Health Benefits
Aetna - Lucent Health
Aetna - Luminare
Aetna - Moda
Aetna - WebTPA
Aetna – HealthEZ
All Savers
Anthem
Arlo
AvMed
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Centivo
Cigna
Cigna - HealthEZ
Evernorth
Golden Rule
Harvard Pilgrim/UnitedHealthcare
Independence Administrators
Independence Blue Cross
Kaiser Permanente
Optum
OptumHealth Complex Medical Conditions
Oscar
Oxford
Surest (formerly Bind)
Tufts Health/Cigna
United Medical Resources
UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance
UnitedHealthcare Shared Services
UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
UnitedHealthcare/Optum
I often use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in my work because it empowers clients to better understand the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Together, we’ll identify unhelpful patterns and replace them with more constructive ones, helping you feel more in control and capable in your daily life. CBT is especially effective for concerns like anxiety, depression, stress, and trauma-related symptoms. My approach is collaborative, practical, and rooted in compassion—I meet clients where they are and support them in making meaningful, sustainable change.
I use Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help you better manage emotions, navigate relationships, and feel more grounded during stressful times. DBT teaches practical skills like mindfulness, setting boundaries, and managing overwhelming feelings in a healthy way. Together, we’ll work to help you build a more balanced and fulfilling life.
I use Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help clients explore and heal the different parts of themselves—like the anxious part, the perfectionist, or the inner child. This approach gently guides you toward more self-compassion, clarity, and emotional balance by helping each part feel heard and understood.
2 ratings with written reviews
May 30, 2026
Danielle listens to understand, leads some conversations and always asks how I feel or think about whatever she just shared. Gives homework (I love this) is non judgmental rather very kind and intelligent. Always providing tools to help with any current situation.
September 12, 2025
She is very nice and understanding