Dañel Whitehead
I’m Dr. Dañel Whitehead, a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, clinical supervisor, and founder of The Mental Wellness Collective, a virtual group practice. I hold a doctorate in professional counseling, and I’m licensed in six states. I work with individuals who hold everything together for everyone else while feeling anxious, depleted, or unsure of who they are outside of their roles. My sessions are warm and direct. I listen closely, I tell the truth, and I help you trace the patterns underneath, like people-pleasing, overthinking, and self-doubt, so you can build something steadier.
You hold everything together for everyone else, and you’re exhausted. I help you feel understood, trace the patterns underneath, and build something steadier.
My approach is practical and collaborative. I mainly use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), along with Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT), and Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), tailored to your goals. At The Mental Wellness Collective, our aim is simple: Support that fits into a full life and leads to real, lasting change.
First session
Your first session is a conversation, not an interrogation. If you’ve never done therapy before, that’s completely okay. You don’t need to prepare anything or tell your whole story at once. I’ll ask what brought you in, what you’ve already tried, and what you’d like to feel different. You’ll leave with a clearer sense of what’s been weighing on you, a shared picture of your goals, and a plan for what the next few sessions will focus on. Mostly, you’ll get to see what it feels like to be heard.
Strengths
I bring range and depth. As a clinical supervisor with a doctorate, I don’t just practice this work; I’m trained to teach and evaluate it, which keeps my standards high. I also don’t squeeze every client into one method. CBT gives us structure, DBT and ACT build skills for handling stress and emotions, SFT keeps us moving toward your goals, and EFT helps with how you relate to yourself and others. The approach fits you, not the other way around.
Ideal clients
My ideal client is an individual who carries a lot for other people and is tired in a way sleep doesn’t fix. They may be dealing with anxiety, low mood, or the sense that they aren’t sure who they are outside of their roles. They are reflective, willing to be honest, and ready to do the work, even if they don’t know where to start. Their goals are a steadier sense of self, healthier boundaries, and a life they're choosing, not just managing.
Origin story
Feeling truly understood changes people. I became a therapist to offer that: to help people feel heard and seen, and to support them as they find more peace, contentment, and the best version of themselves. In my sessions, you won’t have to perform. My hope is that you leave feeling lighter, clearer, and more like yourself than when you walked in. I’ve made it my business to be that for every client who sits with me.
Ongoing work together
Ongoing sessions build on each other. We start with what’s weighing on you, then move into the patterns underneath it and the skills and boundaries that help you handle it differently. Along the way, we check in on your goals so progress isn’t left to guesswork. You’ll know it’s working when things that used to overwhelm you feel more manageable, you’re sleeping and reacting differently, and you’re making decisions from a steadier place. Some weeks will feel like breakthroughs and some won’t, and both are part of the work.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT is the foundation of my work. We look at how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors feed each other, especially the automatic thoughts that fuel anxiety and low mood. Then we practice testing those thoughts and building new habits, so the changes hold up outside of sessions.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I use DBT skills when emotions feel too big, too fast. We work on handling distress in the moment, regulating intense feelings, and communicating needs without losing yourself or the relationship. These are practical skills you can use the same day.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
With ACT, the goal isn’t to fight difficult thoughts and feelings. It’s to make room for them while you move toward what matters to you. We clarify your values and take small steps that fit them, even when anxiety or self-doubt is loud.
Solution-Focused Brief Treatment
SFT work keeps us pointed at where you want to be. Instead of staying with the problem, we look at what’s already working, what a better day looks like, and the next small step toward it. It’s especially useful when you want momentum.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
I use EFT to understand the emotions underneath your reactions and how you connect with yourself and others. We slow down, name what you’re actually feeling, and work on how you relate in your closest relationships, so you can respond from security instead of fear or withdrawal.
Location
Virtual sessions