Dana Andersen

Dana Andersen is a licensed counselor practicing in Minnesota. She holds LPC and LPCC credentials and brings 15 years of clinical experience to her work. Dana focuses on helping people navigate stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, and major life changes. She meets people where they are and values each person's story and strengths.

In sessions she uses practical, straightforward methods that aim to reduce overwhelm and build coping skills. Dana blends Trauma-Focused Therapy with approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Emotionally-Focused Therapy, and Client-Centered Therapy to match what each person needs. The goal is to find small, useful changes that add up over time.

Dana also addresses concerns that can come up alongside core issues. These include abandonment, codependency, communication problems, caregiver stress, chronic illness and pain, feelings of emptiness, guilt and shame, and challenges around fatherhood and family roles. She also works with people facing cancer, hospice and end-of-life questions, and isolation.

Her style is direct but compassionate, inviting input from the person she is working with. Dana encourages people to use their own strengths and to try practical tools between sessions. She guides the process while respecting each person's pace and priorities.

To begin, clients select a Start Therapy option and complete a short matching questionnaire before scheduling according to availability. Dana recognizes that reaching out takes courage and aims to make the first steps clear and manageable.

How Dana's Approaches Work Online and in Sessions

Trauma-Focused Therapy focuses on helping people process painful memories and reduce the ways past experiences cause distress now. It often includes grounding skills, pacing, and exercises that help lessen the hold of traumatic memories.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, teaches practical skills to notice thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, and to take actions that match personal values. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at patterns of thinking and behavior and helps people test and change habits that keep problems going.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Dana will collaborate with each person to pick methods that fit their goals, needs, and preferences. She checks in often and adjusts the plan if something is not helping.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm the current session options before booking so you know what formats are offered. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, provide a quieter space for focused conversation, and reduce travel time so sessions feel more manageable. Licensed professionals can also tailor session length and homework to accommodate work, caregiving, and health needs.