Dawn Daniels, LCMHC, LCASA - Therapist

Education- BA/Psychology MS/Forensic Psychology MS/ Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Licenses - Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist Associate

“MEET THE CLIENT WHERE THEY ARE AT”

I obtained my Bachelor of Art degree in Psychology from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey where I was born and raised. I relocated to North Carolina in 2010 in which my passion for learning and helping guided me to pursue a graduate degree at Walden University. In 2015, I completed my MA in Forensic Psychology. I then obtained my MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2019, also from Walden. I am currently a LCMHCA and LCASA.

My thoughts are that your life experiences guide you and my life experiences have had an impact on me. My journey began with a seven-year career working with the Department of Public Safety. I initially started as a Juvenile Transporter. Here, I was able to increase my knowledge of the criminal justice system while also developing deep empathy towards the population. After this, I became a Correctional Officer at North Carolina Correctional Institute for Women, the largest women’s prison in North Carolina. While there, I was able to move forward on a path that I knew I was destined for: obtaining advanced learning in psychology and applying those skills to help others. After getting my MA I became a Correctional Behavioral Specialist and a member of the Inpatient Mental Health Treatment Team. I worked both one-on-one and in a group setting with inmates that were suffering from pervasive mental health issues. I eventually transitioned to working in the community focusing on clients dealing with substance abuse. My experiences also include working in the private practice setting and inpatient treatment. I have worked with children, teenagers, young adults and adults.

My belief and motto are to meet the client where they are. I understand the need to treat each person for the individual that they are and not to compare those to others because no one person is the same. I have worked with a wide array of clients suffering from many different mental health and substance use disorders. I incorporate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as treatment modalities. I understand that life is a learning experience and I have a willingness to continue learning so that I can grow as a clinician and develop skills in other treatment modalities.