Dana Benton, LICSW

Dana Benton is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with 17 years of experience. She focuses on grief, low self-esteem, career questions, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue. Dana aims to help people notice what matters and take practical steps forward.

She works collaboratively and treats each person as the expert in their own life. Sessions focus on clear goals and small changes that add up. Dana draws on a mix of approaches to match what each person needs rather than using one fixed method.

In practice she uses skills-based work and reflective conversation. That can mean learning strategies to manage difficult moods, trying new actions to test what helps, or looking at how early attachment patterns still shape relationships. The aim is to build useful habits and clearer choices for daily life.

Dana has spent years helping people through major transitions, including career shifts, separation, and midlife change. She also supports those coping with trauma, postpartum mood changes, and the added stress caregivers often face. Her experience includes work with multicultural and immigration-related concerns.

Her style is direct but warm. People who prefer practical tools paired with listening tend to find this approach helpful. To start, potential clients are asked to complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.

Therapeutic approaches and working online

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice what matters and commit to actions that match their values. It often uses simple exercises to reduce avoidance and build a life that feels meaningful. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors to shift mood and functioning. It is practical and useful for mood disorders, low self-esteem, and coping with change.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to pick methods that match their goals and preferences. That might mean mixing ACT and CBT skills, or bringing in attachment-focused conversation to understand relationship patterns. The plan is adjusted over time based on what helps.

If you are considering online therapy, check the session formats before booking to confirm current options. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and avoid travel time. It also lets people use tools and homework between sessions so progress continues outside the appointment. Speak with the therapist during the matching process to learn which formats she is offering and to decide what will work best for your life.