Daniel Patten

Daniel Patten is a California licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with 25 years of professional experience. He works with adults who are facing relationship strain, grief, depression, and major life changes. He also supports people dealing with aging and geriatric concerns, caregiver stress, attachment and codependency issues, and questions about life purpose.

Daniel frames clients as the experts in their own stories and looks for strengths to build on. He uses straightforward conversations to clarify what matters now and to identify small, practical steps forward. He encourages simple daily practices, including a morning meditation habit drawn from Dzogchen Meditation.

In session he blends approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to address unhelpful thinking and to increase values-driven action. He also draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills for emotional regulation and uses elements of Imago Relationship Therapy when relationship dynamics are central.

Sessions are conversational and aim to be direct rather than theoretical. Daniel helps people talk through immediate problems, practice skills between sessions, and test new ways of handling difficult conversations or decisions. He recommends starting with small experiments and brief daily routines to build momentum.

He asks new clients to complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule a first session. Fees vary by location and use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time. Sessions are conducted in English and international clients are accepted.

Therapeutic approaches Daniel draws on for online sessions

Daniel often uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people clarify their values and take actions that align with what matters to them. ACT focuses on noticing thoughts and feelings without getting dominated by them, which can be useful for decisions about work, relationships, or life purpose.

He also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to uncover patterns of thinking that feed depression and anxiety, and then to test new ways of thinking and behaving. CBT is practical and skill based, and it can help with low mood, worry, and problem-solving when life changes feel overwhelming.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Daniel treats the choice of methods as collaborative and will discuss which mix of ACT, CBT, or DBT skills fits a client’s goals and preferences. Clients and therapist review what’s working and adjust as needed.

The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm current online options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow for shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. For many people this flexibility helps maintain consistent practice and apply skills between meetings.