Danika Kasky has 15 years of experience as a psychotherapist. Her holistic approach aims for an understanding of a person that includes patterns in behavior, communication, relationships and the impact of formative experiences. She specializes in working with teens and adults with concerns related to attachment and trauma, and she is trained in TF-CBT and EMDR.

What would your clients and colleagues say is your therapist superpower?

I’ve been told that I have a way of making others feel very comfortable and supported. During my early years, I received the same feedback from a supervisor saying that I could build relationships in many different types of situations, and this has proven to be a theme. I’ve been told that I bring a lot of humanity to therapy, which is so kind and I’m so happy to have these relationships with my clients.

What does a typical session with you look like?

A typical session will start more open ended so we can have some time to connect and catch up on events since we last saw each other. This will help us determine what would be helpful that day; we may continue on a goal from a previous meeting or address something new that came up. If we are doing a structured modality such as EMDR or TF-CBT, we will do our best to make sure that we continue in that direction but I will always be checking in to make sure those goals are still fitting. Therapy is not linear and these things can change as we go along. I’ve been told my approach is very warm and transparent. You can expect that I’ll definitely be joking around with you but will be straightforward and challenge you when needed. I am solution focused, so one thing I always try to incorporate is a summary of our meeting and to establish something concrete to focus on before we meet next to ensure that we’re moving towards your goals.

Is there an example from your daily life where you practice what you preach?

I would say that this is at home with my fiance and daughter, being a new family of three. At home, I try to make a point of practicing effective communication as we navigate parenthood and also model healthy self regulation for my daughter, who is just entering her toddler years! I’ve had to learn to be kind to myself and give myself a lot of grace with this whole new adventure, which I’m also always encouraging my clients to do as they grow in therapy and learn new lessons to reach their goals. It won’t always be perfect, but we are all out here doing our best together!

For more information, please visit www.danikakaskylmft.com