Dana Benton, LICSW - Therapist in Massachusetts

About Dana

Dana Benton is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with 17 years of experience. She focuses on grief, low self-esteem, career concerns, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue. Dana speaks in plain terms and aims to make the first steps toward change feel manageable.

Dana takes a partnership approach. She treats the person as the expert on their life and works together to set clear goals. Sessions are practical and grounded, with an emphasis on what a client can try between meetings.

Background and approach

She aims to strengthen the skills people already have and build new ways to cope. Her background includes long experience with trauma, motivation, and issues tied to race, culture, and identity. Dana also helps people facing attachment concerns, caregiver stress, postpartum depression, mood disorders, and migration-related challenges.

She draws on a range of approaches to match each person’s needs. In session she uses straightforward methods from cognitive behavioral approaches, acceptance and commitment ideas, client-centered listening, and skills from dialectical behavior work. Attachment-based thinking guides how she understands relationships and patterns that cause pain.

Dana works with people across many stages of life who need help finding direction, repairing trust, or managing strong emotions. She aims to create a steady, respectful space where practical steps replace overwhelm.

Credentials

LICSW (Massachusetts): License 119875 · expires March 2027
LICSW (Rhode Island): License ISW02552 · expires May 2027
NPI: 1437345683 · national provider identifier

Both are public records. A state board register will confirm a license and its standing, and the national registry will confirm an NPI. This directory copies what the therapist lists and checks neither.

Focus areas and approaches

Everything Dana lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.

Approaches Dana names

Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.

Online support

How attachment work and skills-based therapy translate online

Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on relationship patterns and how early connections shape current responses; it helps people understand why they react a certain way in close relationships and learn different, healthier patterns. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages noticing thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them while clarifying personal values; it can help with grief, life changes, and motivation by guiding small, value-driven steps. Client-Centered Therapy prioritizes empathetic listening and the client's own perspective to build trust and confidence, helping people feel heard and respected.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Dana will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped before. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust those methods over time based on what feels useful.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls let people use visual cues for deeper conversations. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging support quick reflections, brief check-ins, or ongoing practice between scheduled meetings. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy or changing schedules while keeping the focus on steady progress.

Frequently asked

What concerns does she commonly address?

Dana focuses on grief, low self-esteem, career difficulties, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue. She also works with attachment issues, trauma, postpartum depression, mood disorders, and multicultural concerns.

How would you describe her therapeutic style?

She emphasizes a partnership model where the client is treated as the expert on their life. Sessions are practical, goal-oriented, and centered on building usable skills between appointments.

What is her clinical background and experience?

She has 17 years of professional experience in the field, working with grief, trauma, motivation, and identity-related concerns. That background informs a flexible approach to common life challenges.

What credentials and region are listed for this clinician?

She holds LICSW credentials listed as RI LICSW and MA LICSW and is based in Massachusetts.

Does she provide therapy in other languages or internationally?

Sessions are offered in English. She is not accepting international clients at this time.

What session formats are available for online work?

Sessions can be done via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.

How are costs and billing handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

What steps do I take to begin working together?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.

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