Hi, I'm Dan. Being connected to others is part of what it means to be human. Relationships are vehicles for support, growth, joy, pain, and struggle. And this is true across the lifespan. Children, adolescents, and adults face challenges around self-image, emotional health, impulse control, and social life. Therapy is a relationship that can help us understand ourselves better and learn new ways of thinking, feeling, and connecting. And therapy, like other relationships, can make a difference throughout the lifespan. As a therapist, I love connecting with clients of many different ages in ways that fit their unique personalities and levels of development. Whether you seek support for yourself, your child, or your teen, I would be honored to offer space for new awareness, healing, and growth.
How I Help
As a counselor, I create a safe and empathic space for you—or your child or teenager—to process what's going on inside without fear of judgment or cookie-cutter "answers.” I also encourage my clients to explore the possible influence of past and present relationships, experiences, and social-cultural factors on their inner worlds. Recognizing the power of relationships, I try to help us stay attentive to the therapy relationship in terms of how you, the client, experience me and how I might need to adjust my approach to be more helpful. I focus on play therapy with child clients, as I find this is the best medium for children to express themselves and work through inner struggles. While I use talk therapy with most teen and adult clients, I may incorporate some play interventions that fit the client (e.g., expressive arts and sensory-experience play).
My Specialties
Play Therapy
Play is central to child development; children learn, communicate, and grow through play. As a play therapist, I get to be a special guest in a child's "world of play." I facilitate child-directed play, allowing my child clients to interact with me, express themselves, and explore on their terms. This offers opportunities for growth in independence, confidence, self-awareness, and self-acceptance—all in a format that meets children where they are.
Depression/Anxiety
Struggles with depressed mood and overwhelming anxiety may be more common than you think. Both can take a toll on many aspects of day-to-day life, including sleep, motivation, physical health, relationships, and job performance. Depressed mood and pervasive anxiety can be caused by—and connected to—many different factors, and it can take time and commitment to work through the underlying issues. As a therapist, I seek to offer a compassionate and nonjudgmental space for this process and to be a supportive companion on the journey toward healing and a new perspective.
Social-Emotional Adjustment:
Across our lifespan, many of us struggle to fit in or belong. Sometimes, this happens when an individual is different from those around them in key areas such as personality or culture. It can also be connected to damaging relationships and experiences that have shaped a person's self-image, emotions, and coping strategies. My role as a therapist is not to "fix" who you are so that you "fit in." Instead, it's to help you explore and understand those areas of pain in a spirit of compassion and acceptance. From there, I seek to support you as you learn new ways of connecting that fit you.
Neurodevelopmental Difference (Children & Teens):
For children with some form of neurodevelopmental difference—such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or significant traits of these—it can be difficult to connect or "fit in" with peers. These differences can also lead to challenges with self-image and managing emotions. As these children become teenagers, they may struggle to form healthy identities. As a counselor, I am not qualified to perform evaluation or testing for ADHD or ASD, typically performed by psychologists. And my approach does not focus on behavior management, as do many treatments for ADHD and ASD. Instead, I specialize in offering a safe space for these children and teens to process emotional and social challenges, recognizing how they may express these differently from more "neurotypical" youth. So, for example, if you are interested in therapy for your child or teen with ADHD or ASD that focuses on understanding their unique perspective, strengths, and needs—rather than behavior modification—I encourage you to reach out.
More About Me
I am a film and music buff with a special love for filmmakers and music artists who see the world in unique ways. I enjoy reading, black coffee, walks in the woods, and spending lazy, schedule-free days with my wife. Also, I am originally from New Jersey, like 43% of Charlotte residents (ha!), but I have lived in North Carolina for 12 years.