Dana White

For me, therapy is first and foremost about relationships. It begins with two people coming together to create a space where honesty and healing can happen. I believe that every person has inherent worth, dignity, and the potential to heal, even when life experiences, trauma, or circumstances have made that difficult to see. My role as a therapist isn’t to “fix” anyone but rather to walk alongside people in their struggles, offering compassion, support, and practical tools so they can discover their own capacity to grow and thrive.

When people first come to me, they’re usually carrying a great deal — worries that keep them up at night, sadness that lingers, relationships that feel strained, or uncertainty about what direction to take next. My role as their therapist is to help them find clarity, peace, and confidence. I do that by meeting each person exactly where they are, without judgment, and by creating a space where they can be fully seen and heard. In that space, I offer both practical tools and genuine compassion to help them move toward meaningful change.

I primarily use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) because it’s a structured, evidence-based approach that helps clients identify the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Many of the challenges people face — such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and relationship conflict — are fueled by patterns of thinking that no longer serve them. Through CBT, we learn to slow those thoughts down, examine them with curiosity and challenge them with truth and evidence. This process helps clients develop new perspectives and more adaptive ways of responding to life’s stressors. In time, that shift in thinking creates real and lasting change.

While CBT provides a strong foundation, I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Every client brings their own story, personality, and strengths into the counseling session. Therapy works best when it feels personal — not clinical or mechanical. Therefore, I take time to understand each client’s background, values and goals. I view therapy as a collaborative process, where clients are the experts on their own lives, and my role is to help them uncover insight, resilience and tools that support their journey toward growth. I integrate elements of other modalities when appropriate, such as person-centered therapy, mindfulness and solution-focused techniques, with CBT to ensure that each session meets the unique needs of the individual in session with me. Below is some of the challenges I see in my practice and how I work to help my clients.

For clients who desire it, faith integration can be a meaningful and transformative part of the therapeutic process. For my Christian clients, faith often plays a central role in their healing and growth. When appropriate, I integrate biblical principles and spiritual reflection into our CBT work. The Bible offers timeless wisdom about hope, forgiveness, grace and perseverance — all of which are essential components of emotional well-being. For some, exploring faith-based perspectives brings comfort and direction; for others, it helps align their personal goals with their core values and beliefs. I never force spiritual discussion, but when clients desire it, I’m honored to walk that path with them - combining therapeutic techniques with biblical truth in a way that feels natural and supportive.

Anxiety is one of the most common reasons people seek therapy, and it’s something I encounter almost every day in my practice. For many, anxiety feels like an invisible weight — a constant “what if” voice that never turns off. It often shows up as racing thoughts, restlessness, difficulty sleeping or a fear of losing control. My goal is to help clients take that voice out of the driver’s seat. Through CBT, we identify the thought patterns that fuel anxiety — such as catastrophizing, overthinking, or perfectionism — and we gently challenge them with reason, evidence, and compassion. Clients learn grounding techniques, deep breathing exercises, and ways to calm the body’s physiological stress response. Over time, clients can gain confidence in their ability to manage anxiety instead of being controlled by it.

Depression is another common area where I provide support. Depression can make people feel heavy and colorless, leaving individuals feeling disconnected from themselves and others. It often brings guilt, shame, or hopelessness that makes it hard to reach out for help. In therapy, I create a space where clients don’t have to hide what they’re feeling or pretend to be okay. We start small – setting realistic goals, building motivation, and reconnecting with the people and activities that once brought joy or purpose. Using CBT, we explore the negative thought patterns that feed the depression — thoughts like “I’m not good enough,” or “Nothing will ever change.” Together, we work to replace those beliefs with more balanced, compassionate perspectives. As clients begin to challenge these internal narratives, they often find moments of light again. For those whose faith is important, we may also discuss finding hope in God’s promises and understanding that even in times of deep pain, their worth and identity remain intact.

Relationship issues are another frequent focus of my work. Many people come to therapy because of ongoing conflict, unmet needs, or patterns in relationships that feel hard to change. Relationships shape how we see ourselves and how we engage with the world around us. When those relationships are strained – whether with partners, parents, or other loved ones – they can impact every area of life. In therapy, I help clients identify and understand recurring patterns such as people-pleasing, avoidance, difficulty setting boundaries or unresolved wounds from childhood. Together, we explore how these patterns developed and how to move toward healthier, more authentic connections. I teach practical communication tools that make difficult conversations more effective and help clients express needs clearly. Sometimes this process involves forgiveness — not to excuse past hurt, but to release the emotional weight that keeps someone stuck in pain.

Another area of my work involves helping clients navigate life transitions — whether it’s a career change, entering a new phase of life, parenting challenges, grief, or rediscovering themselves after a major life event. These seasons of life often bring uncertainty, self=doubt, and a loss of direction. My goal is to help clients regain confidence in their ability to make decisions, clarify their values and move forward with purpose. By reconnecting with their strengths and support systems, clients can rebuild a sense of stability and hope.
Ultimately, my approach to therapy is rooted in empathy, respect, and authenticity. I believe people heal best when they feel safe enough to be vulnerable and supported enough to take risks toward growth. My greatest privilege as a therapist is witnessing that transformation — when clients begin to see their own strength, reclaim their voice, and experience the freedom that comes with emotional and spiritual healing.

Therapy, to me, is sacred work. It’s about creating space for people to be fully human — to grieve, to grow, and to hope again. Whether through cognitive tools, relational insight, or faith-based reflection, my goal is to help each person I work with move toward a more peaceful, purposeful, and fulfilling life.