ABOUT DANA
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). My graduate training was at Fordham University. My professional career includes clinical work in hospitals, schools, nursing homes, private therapy practices, group homes and hospice care. After exploring various settings I found my passion in outpatient therapy work. I love working in private outpatient therapy practice because clients, often, come to you motivated with goals in mind. They want help to reduce stress, cope with anxiety, become happier, reduce fighting in a relationship or perhaps they want someone to discuss the direction of their life and future plans.
APPROACH TO THERAPY
My approach is based on creating a strong relationship with my clients, a place where they feel safe to explore their lives and emotions. I always work collaboratively with my clients to find what techniques and therapeutic environment they need to grow and heal. I believe that having an empathic, open and caring therapist is where successful therapy begins. I place a strong emphasis on making my clients feel comfortable, welcome and safe. I do not believe that one approach in therapy will work for everyone.
DBT therapy is an approach I often use with clients suffering from depression, anxiety, panic disorder, PTSD and clients with overall difficulties controlling their emotions. DBT is a type of CBT therapy utilized to help clients regulate their emotions. It has 4 main components: Mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. This is just one of the examples of treatment I use with my clients.
I have a passion for working to help families reach a place of calm, understanding and reduce conflict in the home. My goal when working with families is to identify and heal relationships. I truly enjoy watching the process of families come together to discuss difficulties and work together to repair or start important family bonds.
I have extensive experience in treating clients of all ages that suffer from various forms of anxiety disorders.
I will identify, explain and help my clients begin to understand their own anxiety and how it works so they can reduce it. Again, I am well trained and familiar with various treatment techniques to reduce anxiety such as CBT and ACT are two of my favorites for anxiety.
Family therapy, anxiety disorders, OCD, eating disorders, depression, BPD, bi-polar disorder, C-PTSD, CBT/DBT, ACT, narrative therapy, psychodynamic approach