Dana Phillips

Dana Phillips is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in New Jersey. She centers her work on the relationship with each person and listens first. Dana says that connecting with someone matters more than any single technique. Dana brings ten years of experience in schools and community settings to her private practice. Her background includes school counseling, substance use prevention, crisis intervention, and work with children and families. Those roles shaped how she responds to stress, anxiety, grief, relationship strain, and life changes. Her approach is client-centered, which means sessions focus on the person in front of her rather than a fixed method. She often draws on cognitive behavioral ideas to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, and uses dialectical behavior strategies when people need practical tools for emotion regulation. Mindfulness and motivational interviewing also appear in sessions when they fit someone's goals. Dana has helped people navigate many concerns, including parenting challenges, blended family issues, body image, and the practical and emotional impacts of divorce and separation. She also addresses addiction, trauma, eating concerns, and attention-related difficulties. In sessions Dana aims for clear communication and respectful feedback. She encourages people to set realistic goals and to try small steps between meetings. Her style is direct but supportive, and she works alongside each person to find approaches that match their life. To begin a working relationship she asks people to share what matters most to them, what they want to change, and what they hope to get from counseling. That information shapes a plan they can adjust as progress is made.

Using practical approaches for online counseling

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening, respect, and working at the client’s pace. The therapist follows the person’s lead, reflects concerns, and helps set goals based on what matters most to them.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and replace them with more effective patterns. It is often used for anxiety, depression, stress, and coping with life changes. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers concrete skills for managing strong emotions and improving communication when feelings feel overwhelming.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss goals, try methods that fit, and adjust the plan based on what helps. That collaborative process makes it easier to test practical tools between sessions and refine what works.

Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counseling into a busy day, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. They also let people use exercises and worksheets in the moment so skills can be practiced between meetings.