Destini Haggen, LMSW

Destini Haggen is a licensed master social worker who helps people manage stress and anxiety. She welcomes straightforward conversations and focuses on practical steps people can use between sessions. Her style is down-to-earth and goal oriented so clients can see change sooner rather than later.

She draws on cognitive behavioral ideas to help people notice how thoughts shape feelings and actions. That work often pairs with client-centered conversation that follows each person’s pace. Dialectical behavior skills and mindfulness practice are added when emotion regulation or strong reactions get in the way of daily life.

Destini has four years of clinical experience working with diverse individuals in Michigan. She has supported people facing addiction, depression, grief, trauma and relationship struggles. She also provides coaching around self-esteem and intimacy-related concerns and offers focused help for gender dysphoria issues.

In sessions she uses solution-focused methods to highlight strengths and build small, doable steps toward goals. Motivational interviewing is part of her approach when people want help changing habits or reducing harmful behaviors.

People who choose her can expect clear, practical suggestions and a collaborative plan. She aims to make progress feel manageable while respecting each person’s values and timing.

How cognitive work and skills translate online

CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing them with practical experiments. It helps people reduce anxiety, manage mood, and change patterns that feed stress. Client-centered therapy centers the person in the room and relies on listening and reflective conversation to help clarify goals and values. DBT, or dialectical behavior therapy, teaches concrete skills like distress tolerance and emotion regulation for people who get overwhelmed by strong feelings.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose which methods to emphasize based on goals, day-to-day needs, and personal preference. That plan can shift as progress is made and new priorities appear.

Online sessions can be done as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different routines. Video calls are useful for longer sessions and seeing facial cues, while phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging work well for ongoing coaching, brief reflections, or when writing feels more natural. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, school, or family schedules and to keep momentum between meetings.