Dana Steiner, LCPC

Dana Steiner is an Illinois-licensed mental health counselor with 26 years of experience. She works with individuals and couples on relationship concerns, grief, anxiety, depression, and challenges around eating and body image. Dana uses practical therapy methods to help people manage stress and cope with life changes.

Her style is direct and warm. She offers straightforward feedback and invites clients to share what is and isn't helpful. That two-way exchange helps Dana shape treatment around each person's real problems and goals. Sessions aim to build skills people can use between appointments.

Dana draws on cognitive behavioral therapy, client-centered work, and mindfulness skills to address everyday struggles. She also integrates elements of dialectical behavior therapy and the Gottman Method when those approaches fit the issue at hand. Her focus is on clear strategies for managing mood, behavior, and close relationships.

She has a long history working with people facing chronic illness, caregiver stress, blended family challenges, and the fallout of trauma or loss. Dana also helps with career stress, compassion fatigue, first responder concerns, and issues connected to LGBT identity. Her practice includes attention to sleep, eating patterns, and the mood-food link.

Originally from Brooklyn, New York, she studied psychology at Washington University in St. Louis and completed graduate training in Chicago. Dana aims to create a respectful, nonjudgmental space where clients can try new approaches and gain practical tools to move forward.

Practical approaches for online therapy and relationship work

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and understanding each person's viewpoint. It helps people feel heard and supports them in finding their own solutions to relationship and life problems.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect. It teaches concrete skills to manage anxiety, depression, sleep or eating problems, and to change unhelpful patterns in relationships.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) offers tools for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and better communication. These skills are useful for handling intense feelings, conflict, or stress from caregiving and trauma.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Dana will collaborate with each person to decide which methods match their goals, preferences, and day-to-day needs. That collaboration can include trying different skills and checking what helps.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to make therapy fit a busy life. Video is useful for deeper conversations and relationship work. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text messaging support brief check-ins, skill practice, and ongoing contact between longer sessions. These options help people keep therapy consistent around work, caregiving, and other commitments.