Approach to Therapy

Dan's approach to therapy is direct, encouraging, and lighthearted.  His focus is on the authenticity of an individual, both their strengths and areas of improvement, and utilizing both as the foundation of treatment.  Dan incorporates his personal and professional experiences, along with an openness to learn, to create a well-balanced therapeutic relationship with the individuals he sees.  He is very personable and easy going and enjoys creating a collaborative relationship, empowering the individuals he works with.  Dan believes when it comes to anxiety, we tend to make things more chaotic, fail to hold ourselves accountable, and shy away from our actual truth. A willingness to engage in therapy, ease into change, and be comfortable being uncomfortable, can be life changing.  Through the therapeutic process, you're able to take the fear / worry lenses off and begin seeing the beauty and love that is around you.  Through the use of Cognitive Behavioral Interventions and Exposure-Based Treatment, Dan's goal is to help assist people in seeing anxiety for what it is and providing them a space to develop what works for them so they can gain back control of their lives.

Experience and Training

Dan received his BSW and MSW from Aurora University.  Dan specializes in providing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to children, teens, and adults who struggle with anxiety, OCD, trauma, depression, behavioral issues and anxiety-related issues. He incorporates families and other providers in his work with children and teens, believing that in order to create change, it is important that everyone be on the same page and for the entire system to change. He especially enjoys working with teenage boys and believes he is able to create the relationship necessary to allow them to be vulnerable and feel safe to share. He is able to provide treatment in the office or where anxiety happens, and is a member of the International OCD Foundation.

Before joining the OCD & Anxiety Center, Dan worked in different settings including a homeless shelter, schools, and private practice.  Within the school settings, Dan has implemented evidence-based curriculums, including Life Skills and Too Good for Drugs, and co-facilitated a teenage boys group, focusing on what it's like being a male in today's society.  Dan has also been a speaker for school events, including a showing of the documentary Angst, which was made to raise awareness around anxiety.  Dan specializes in the use of interventions such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Exposure Based Treatment, Mindfulness, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

Most of Dan's past experience comes from working at a homeless shelter, where he worked with youth with trauma backgrounds and anxiety.  His most consistent work was with his teen boy's group, which met weekly for group, occasional individual sessions, and outdoor / out of state trips.  Dan utilized similar treatment approaches from his experience in private practice, with the addition of Trauma Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Adventure Therapy.  Dan was lucky enough to be able to take his teen boys group, along with a couple other youth groups, out of the homeless shelter and explore places like Colorado, North Carolina, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and utilize an Adventure Therapy approach.  With the addition of a therapeutic element, activities included camping, kayaking, rock climbing, white water rafting, high ropes courses, and a number of other team building activities.  Dan was able to discover the power of bringing individuals outside of their normal environment, providing them the space to be vulnerable, challenge themselves, and be open to growth.  This experience taught him that helping others by creating opportunities to challenge and face fears is very rewarding and effective.

More About Dan

Dan was raised in the South Suburbs of Chicago.  He spends most of his time outdoors, engaging in similar activities like the ones he used while providing adventure therapy, with the addition of cycling, running, and playing golf.  Dan spends the rest of his time enjoying the company of his family and friends.