Bahner

Daniel believes that people are, in many ways, like plants. We all need certain ingredients to reach our fullest potential. When a plant isn’t growing, we don’t ask, “what is wrong with the plant?” but instead understand that something happened in the environment. With this in mind, Daniel’s guiding question when working with clients experiencing psychological distress is, “what happened to you?” He knows that many clients have had to adapt to difficult situations or were never in environments where all of the necessary ingredients were provided. To help clients reduce their symptoms and start moving towards their goals, he prioritizes cultivating a therapeutic relationship that is built upon emotional safety, trust, authenticity, empathy, hope, and non-judgment. Through collaboration, clients grow into the version of themselves they hope to be, develop coping skills to manage difficult emotions, and are more resilient when faced with life's setbacks.

Daniel excels with working with clients who want to better understand how their psychological symptoms are linked to experiences they have had in their past. By building a therapeutic space that honors the impact of these lived experiences on their minds and bodies, he helps clients rewrite the narratives of their lives and have more compassion for their many parts of themselves just trying to protect them.

He also understands the impact ancient wisdom and spiritual practice can have on mental health and works with individuals of all faith traditions to incorporate this into their therapeutic journey as appropriate.

Daniel received a Masters of Arts Counseling Psychology, with a specialization in trauma and crisis Intervention, from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. He utilizes person-centered/humanistic theory, narrative therapy, and Internal Family Systems modalities to help clients make change and achieve their goals. Daniel welcomes clients from all racial, ethnic, gender and sexual identities as he sees the healing work of therapy to be a necessary part of bringing about a more just, equitable, and sustainable society. In his free time, Daniel enjoys spending time with his dog and loved ones, cooking, thrifting, going to the beach, dancing, biking, playing video games, and exploring Chicago. He enjoys finding common interests with his clients, in particular the types of stories clients are drawn to, as he knows how powerful myth, folklore, fairy tales, and archetypes can be to inspire and instill hope.