My name is Danni, and I’m a Licensed Therapist with degrees in Clinical Social Work and Marriage and Family Counseling. I’ve worked in mental health across a range of settings, but it was my nearly eight years of experience working with aggressive, nonverbal children and clients on the autism spectrum that shaped my passion for understanding behavior as unspoken, unconscious communication. This experience taught me to read beneath the surface and recognize that our behaviors often reflect deeper emotional needs and unresolved wounds. While my roots are in behavioral work, my focus is on helping adults and adolescents explore their inner worlds—especially through inner child work. I believe the inner child is present in all of us, and that healing comes from understanding and nurturing these parts of ourselves. My approach is direct, thorough, and compassionate. I am committed to helping clients get to the root of their distress and move toward a more authentic and fulfilling life. My Approach and Beliefs I offer progressive therapy grounded in psychodynamic trauma processing and inner child work. Together, we’ll go beyond surface symptoms to trace pain to its origins, uncover where coping mechanisms and triggers first formed, and support you in healing and integrating your whole self. This process can be intense and challenging, but I am here to walk with you every step of the way. My goal is to help you move from surviving to truly living.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
What to Expect Welcome to therapy. I know this can be a little stressful, and you might not know where to begin or what to say. That's okay. You aren't expected to have it all together, and there's no pressure to find the perfect way to phrase things. We will go at your own pace. I just need you to show up. Here are a few of my rules for our work together: No pressure: You don't have to worry about your appearance or your mood. Come as you are. If you're not in the mood to talk, that's okay, we'll sit in silence. No apologies: Don't apologize for crying, getting angry, or not knowing what to say. This is what therapy is for. No perfection: There is no "right" way to do therapy. Your language is your own, and we will not be trying to find the "perfect" way to say something. The Therapy Appointment vs. The Process Think of our first meeting as an appointment. It’s like your first time with a new doctor. Before a doctor can create a treatment plan, they need to fully understand you—your background, your circumstances, and your story. We're going to do the same. This appointment is about laying the groundwork for the process that will follow. Confidentiality & How I Work Everything you share is confidential. This space is yours to be honest and open without judgment. However, there are a few legal limits to that confidentiality. We are obligated to report: Threats to yourself or others: This includes any threats of suicide or violence. Child or elder abuse: If there is any risk of harm to a minor or an elderly person. Court orders: If a judge orders the release of your information, my hands are tied. My Note-Taking: You may see me looking down and taking notes during our session. This is for my reference, so I can be thorough and effective in my practice. While I'm looking down, I'm fully here with you.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
My greatest strength is my directness—I’m not just here to ask how you’re feeling, but to actively partner with you in confronting the deep truths that hold you back. I respect your time and your desire for real change, and I’ll guide you quickly to the heart of what matters. I’m deeply committed to psychodynamic trauma processing and inner child work. I believe that current pain often signals unresolved trauma, and my approach focuses on healing at the root, not just addressing surface symptoms. Together, we’ll help your inner child move forward and integrate with your present self. Finally, I am thorough and unafraid to sit with discomfort for as long as it takes to break through patterns. This work can be intense, but I’m dedicated to helping you reach true, lasting freedom—no matter how deep the journey.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
Who This Is For My approach is not for everyone. As I see it, my job is to be an honest guide, and my first act of honesty is telling you who might not find this to be a good fit. If you are looking for a quick fix, this isn't it. This is a commitment to a deep, transformative process. If you are not willing to talk about your childhood, this is going to be incredibly challenging for you. We will always find our way back to the inner child to understand the origins of your core wounds. If you believe your trauma or pain is "not that bad," my approach is probably not for you. I don't believe in minimizing your pain. I believe in facing it, no matter how scary it may seem. My focus is on individuals because you cannot have a healthy relationship with anyone else until you have one with yourself. My commitment is to get to the heart of the matter, so that you can heal and find the freedom you've been searching for. If you’re ready to face it all, I am here.
Integrative
My approach to therapy is truly integrative—I draw from a wide range of therapeutic concepts and evidence-based methods, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), strengths-based, and solution-focused techniques, to name a few. Effective treatment isn’t about following a single formula; it’s about adapting to the individual, the moment, and the circumstances. Whether we’re addressing immediate concerns or exploring deeper patterns, I blend approaches as needed so our work together is always responsive and tailored just for you. This flexibility allows us to focus on what is most relevant and helpful for your growth, healing, and progress.
Trauma Informed Care
In my practice, Trauma-Informed Care is not just a treatment method; it's a foundational lens through which I understand and approach every client's unique journey. My experience with this method has taught me that trauma, in its many forms, profoundly shapes our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, often without us even realizing it. I use Trauma-Informed Care to create a therapeutic space that prioritizes safety, trustworthiness, and collaboration. This means I'm always mindful of how past experiences might influence your present reactions and your comfort level in therapy. We'll work at your pace, ensuring you feel in control and respected throughout the process. This approach involves helping you understand how past events, from significant life losses to subtle experiences of invalidation, can manifest as present-day challenges like anxiety, communication difficulties, or feeling "stuck." We'll explore how your brain and body learned to protect you, often through what we call defense mechanisms, and how these protective patterns, while once necessary, might now be causing distress in your relationships and daily life. My goal is to empower you to recognize these connections, validate your experiences, and gently re-regulate your emotional responses. By understanding the impact of trauma, we can collaboratively build healthier coping mechanisms and foster resilience, helping you move towards a more integrated and fulfilling life.
Psychodynamic
In my practice, I utilize Psychodynamic Therapy as a powerful tool to explore the deeper, often unconscious, influences that shape your present experiences. My experience with this method has shown me how our past relationships, early life experiences, and unacknowledged feelings can profoundly impact our current behaviors, emotions, and relationship patterns. I use Psychodynamic Therapy to help you gain insight into these underlying dynamics. This isn't just about surface-level symptoms; it's about understanding the "why" behind recurring patterns, persistent anxieties, or difficulties in connecting with others. For example, if you find yourself in similar frustrating relationship cycles, we might explore how early family experiences or unmet needs from your past could be unconsciously playing out in your present. Through our conversations, we'll gently uncover how past experiences and core emotions, some of which might feel "stuck" or unrecognized, influence your current coping mechanisms and reactions. My role is to help you connect these dots, bringing unconscious patterns into conscious awareness. This deeper understanding empowers you to make new choices, break free from old cycles, and develop a more authentic sense of self. My goal with Psychodynamic Therapy is to foster lasting personal growth and emotional freedom by addressing the roots of your challenges, rather than just the branches.
Christian Counseling
What I'm All About: Faith-Based Counseling My approach is structured and direct: we begin by building faith and a trusting relationship with Jesus at the very core. Through practical steps—like coping skills, meditation, and grounding—we focus first on strengthening your faith and commitment. Only after establishing this foundation do we move forward with other aspects of counseling. Faith comes first, guiding every step of your healing journey.
Psychoeducation
I'm a big believer that knowledge is power, and that's exactly what Psychoeducation is all about in my practice. My experience has shown me that when you understand why you feel or react the way you do, it changes everything. I use psychoeducation to essentially "demystify" what's going on inside you. We'll break down concepts like anxiety, defense mechanisms, and emotional regulation into clear, understandable terms. It's about connecting the dots between your past experiences and your current patterns, so you can see how things developed. This isn't just about labels; it's about giving you a roadmap to your own inner world. My goal is to empower you with insight. When you understand the mechanics of your emotions and behaviors, you gain a tremendous amount of control. It helps you shift from feeling overwhelmed or confused to feeling informed and capable, ready to build new, healthier ways of responding to life's challenges.
2 ratings with written reviews
October 6, 2025
I liked that Danni's approach includes directness. I'm very good at evading getting to the root of an issue, so this will likely be a very valuable adjustment for me.
August 1, 2025
Remember what we discussed pointing out things in our discussion