Welcome.
I’m glad you’re here.
When life feels overwhelming—when anxiety, depression, or relationship struggles begin to interfere with your daily well-being—it may be time to seek support. Taking the first step toward change isn’t easy, and I want to acknowledge the courage it takes to do so. Whether you’re a parent concerned about your child’s emotional well-being or a teen struggling with anxiety, OCD, or eating challenges, you don’t have to face it alone. Many of us were never taught the tools we need to manage emotions, navigate relationships, or support our loved ones through distress.Whatever brings you here—whether it’s a new concern or something that’s been weighing on you for a long time—I’m here to help.
Dana Helman
Marriage & Family Therapist
Certified FBT & CBT-E Therapist
My Approach
I believe in providing timely and effective treatment that is accurately tailored to the individual's needs using evidence-based strategies. I believe that the success of therapy has a lot to do with the connection between the client and the therapist. I provide a safe, relaxed, and comfortable environment that enables my clients to develop trust in order for them to be themselves and to open up.
In therapy, we will explore the things that are holding you back, causing pain, and impacting your relationships and the people you care about and love the most. We will work together to create the changes that you want to make in your life and make those changes meaningful and long-lasting. You will be able to take back control and enjoy life again.
Anxiety and OCD
I specialize in treating OCD and anxiety using evidence-based approaches, including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Inference-Based CBT (ICBT). Whether you’re dealing with intrusive thoughts, compulsions, or constant worry, I help clients break free from the cycle and regain a sense of peace and control.
Eating Disorders
I work with children and teens struggling with anorexia, bulimia, and ARFID. My focus is on supporting physical and emotional recovery, including weight restoration when needed, while helping them rebuild a healthy relationship with food and body.
Social and Performance Anxiety
I work with children, teens, and adults who struggle with anxiety in social or high-pressure situations—whether it’s speaking in class, performing at work, or navigating social interactions. For some, this anxiety can be debilitating despite high achievement. I help clients build confidence, reduce avoidance, and approach these challenges with greater calm and self-trust.
Specific Phobias
I help children, teens, and adults overcome intense fears that interfere with daily life. Using gentle, step-by-step exposure-based techniques, we work together to reduce fear and avoidance, building confidence and freedom in everyday situations.
Depression
I support children, teens, and adults experiencing depression, including loss of interest, low motivation, and feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Together, we work to understand these challenges, address unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, and help you reconnect with energy, purpose, and hope.
Failure to Launch in young adults
I work with young adults and their families facing challenges with independence, motivation, and direction. Using evidence-based treatments, I support building skills and confidence to successfully navigate this important life transition.
Couples Therapy
I help couples reconnect and strengthen connection, closeness, and fun. Through improved communication, understanding, and resolving recurring conflicts, we work together to build a more fulfilling and supportive relationship.
Parenting Support
I provide guidance with specific strategies to help you manage your child’s behavior and emotions more confidently. Together, we work on setting clear boundaries, reducing stress, and stopping the feeling of walking on eggshells. My goal is to help you enjoy parenting again and bring back your sense of empowerment and connection with your child.
Stress Management
I help clients understand their unique stress triggers and responses, teaching practical tools to reduce overwhelm and build lasting resilience. Together, we create personalized strategies to restore balance, improve wellbeing, and better cope with life’s challenges.
Psychotherapy Specialities
Treatments
SPACE Treatment
Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions
SPACE is an evidence-based treatment developed at the Yale Child Study Center to support children and teens with anxiety, OCD, and related challenges—even if they are not ready or willing to participate in therapy themselves.
Rather than focusing on the child, SPACE works through the parents, helping them understand how their responses can either support or unintentionally reinforce their child’s difficulties. Parents learn how to respond in ways that foster independence, resilience, and healthy coping—while still offering warmth and support.
SPACE has been shown to be effective with a wide range of issues, including separation anxiety, social anxiety, OCD, school refusal, ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder), and even with young adults struggling to launch.
FBT
Family-Based Treatment for Eating Disorders
Family-Based Treatment (FBT) is the leading evidence-based approach for treating eating disorders in children and adolescents, especially anorexia nervosa. FBT empowers parents to take an active role in helping their child restore physical health and move toward recovery.
The treatment centers on the idea that parents are uniquely positioned to support their child’s healing. With professional guidance, families work together to interrupt eating disorder behaviors, restore nutrition, and create a path back to emotional and developmental well-being.
FBT is highly structured and time-limited, with strong research support for reducing symptoms and preventing relapse. It is considered the gold standard for treating restrictive eating disorders and can also be adapted for ARFID and bulimia.
ERP
Exposure and Response Prevention
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a research-based and highly effective treatment recognized as the gold standard for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in both children and adults.
ERP involves gradually and safely exposing individuals to feared thoughts or situations while helping them resist compulsive behaviors. Over time, this reduces anxiety and builds lasting coping skills.
With professional guidance and support, individuals and families learn to face challenges confidently, regain control, and improve quality of life.
ICBT
Inference-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Inference-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT) is a research-based and highly effective treatment developed for teens and adults with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and related conditions.
This treatment is generally recommended for teens and up, and sometimes needs to be adapted for developmental level and cognitive abilities. I-CBT helps manage intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors by addressing how individuals interpret and respond to their fears. For younger clients, parental support can be an important part of therapy.
This approach promotes healthier thinking patterns, reduces OCD’s impact on daily life, and fosters greater independence and resilience.
CBT
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a research-based and highly effective treatment for a wide range of mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, OCD, and more. It is commonly used with teens and adults, and can be adapted to suit developmental level and cognitive abilities.
CBT helps individuals identify and shift unhelpful thinking patterns, change behavior, and build healthier coping strategies. For younger clients, parental involvement may be included as part of the therapeutic process.
CBT is a practical, goal-oriented approach that supports lasting change and improves daily functioning.
