Dana Benton

Dana Benton is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with 17 years of experience based in Massachusetts. She helps people facing grief, low self-esteem, career uncertainty, compassion fatigue, and major life changes. Dana also lists life purpose among her focus areas and works with concerns related to trauma, mood, and cultural identity.

Dana frames therapy as a partnership. She treats the person as the expert on their life and works together with them to set practical goals. Sessions focus on identifying what matters to the client and on using concrete strategies that fit day-to-day life.

Her approach draws on several evidence-informed methods. Dana uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to clarify values and take purposeful action. She employs Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to examine patterns of thought and behavior. Attachment-based ideas help when relationships and early bonds shape current struggles.

In sessions, Dana helps people talk through what’s not working and build skills for coping and decision making. She also addresses cultural and identity concerns, including prejudice and immigration-related stress. Practical problem solving and emotion regulation skills are often part of the work.

Clients can expect direct conversation, goal setting, and exercises to try between meetings. Dana’s background in social work informs an emphasis on real-world concerns like caregiver stress, postpartum mood changes, and workplace strain. The focus is on manageable steps toward clearer priorities and steadier functioning.

How her approaches translate to online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people name what matters to them and take small actions that reflect those values. It suits issues like career doubt, life purpose exploration, and motivation struggles. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going and testing out new ways of coping. It’s useful for low mood, self-esteem issues, and practical problem solving. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationship patterns affect current reactions and helps people try new ways of relating when attachment wounds are present.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work together. The therapist and client assess goals, personal preferences, and what feels most useful, then adjust methods as progress or challenges arise. That collaborative process helps keep sessions focused on real-life changes the client wants to make.

The biography does not specify which session formats are used, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins during a work break, or avoid being on camera when that’s preferable. Licensed professionals often adapt exercises and worksheets to work well in remote sessions, while still emphasizing practical skill-building and planning between meetings.