Hi, I’m Danielle
In short: I became a therapist because I’ve been a client.
Over the last decade, I’ve sat with my therapist (your great-grand-therapist!) once a week for 50 minutes.
I (reluctantly) went to therapy because shit hit the fan and I couldn’t do it on my own anymore. She welcomed my mess and stuck with me- even when my stubborn self took over and I stormed out of her office (a few times). Sometimes “doing the work” felt uncomfortable and overwhelming and change felt impossible and scary.
At first, I really didn’t like myself.
I was afraid of opening “Pandora’s Box” because I thought I couldn’t handle what was in there. My therapist reassured me that I could, helped me sort through it, and reminded me that I didn’t have to do it alone.
Life is full of paradoxes.
Looking at the parts of myself I was afraid and ashamed of actually diminished their power instead of fueling it. As Allison would say, “what you resist will persist, and what you accept will transform.”
Things started to shift. I started holding myself accountable for my actions and choices. I started taking better care of myself and honoring my needs. I stopped dating shitty people and learned to be alone without being lonely. I feel safe showing up as myself in relationships.
I started to enjoy my life.
Don’t get me wrong- the struggle was real. Sometimes therapy felt like one step forward and two steps back. Healing isn’t linear, and it takes time. I’m still a flawed human, but I’m ok with that. I learned to work with my stuff instead of letting it work me.
Along the way, I grew to love the process of therapy. I believe in its healing and transformative properties. I pursued an undergraduate degree in Psychology and a graduate degree in Clinical Psychology.
I’m still a client for 50 minutes each week, but now I’m a therapist, too.
I earned the letters and numbers after my name because of my education and training, but I know that my life experiences are as invaluable. I love that this career enables me to continue learning and evolving, and I value empirically-supported treatment (yay science). I also believe in the profoundly healing nature of the therapeutic relationship. I’m not a “blank-slate” therapist shrouded in mystery. I believe showing up as a human, first, goes a long way.
I promise to embrace your mess- as mine once was- and go from there. I know what the other side of suffering feels like, and I can’t wait for you to feel it too.
Professional Associations:
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
Santa Barbara Chapter of California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
Psychology Today
Certificates:
Psychological First Aid
Santa Barbara Recovery NetworkNarcan Training
Santa Barbara County’s Department of Behavioral Wellness
My Life in Photos