Danielle Szasz, LMFT
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Utah & California
Danielle specializes in treating high-functioning professionals whose coping strategies have become the problem. Her clinical work targets the biological and temperamental patterns that keep accomplished people stuck in cycles of chronic pain, anxiety, and emotional isolation.
The Short Version
Before becoming a therapist, Danielle practiced bankruptcy law at a top Los Angeles firm. She understands high-stakes environments from the inside, not from a textbook. That professional foundation informs every aspect of her clinical work: the precision, the directness, and the refusal to waste time on interventions that do not produce measurable change.
Her practice is built on a single conviction: that the most driven, disciplined people are often the most physiologically stuck. The traits that built their careers (vigilance, delayed gratification, emotional control) are the same traits that now produce chronic pain, burnout, and relational distance.
The Philosophy
"I do not treat people who lack motivation. I treat people who have too much of it pointed in the wrong direction."
Professional Background
Clinical Director, The Wise Mind Group
Private practice specializing in RO-DBT, EMDR, IFS, and Pain Reprocessing Therapy for high-functioning professionals. Licensed in Utah and California.
Pain Psychology Center, Beverly Hills
Trained under Dr. Alan Gordon in Pain Reprocessing Therapy, treating chronic pain patients whose symptoms had no structural origin. This work became the clinical foundation for the mind-body approach.
Litigation Attorney, Los Angeles
Practiced bankruptcy law at UCLA Law, managing high-stakes cases in a demanding legal environment. The experience of burnout directly informed her transition to clinical psychology.
UCLA School of Law / Clinical Psychology
Juris Doctor followed by graduate training in Marriage and Family Therapy. Dual background in legal reasoning and clinical practice.
Structured. Direct. No Filler.
Danielle's clinical style reflects her training and temperament. Sessions are focused, structured, and oriented toward measurable progress. She does not use therapy as a space for open-ended exploration without direction.
Her primary framework is Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO-DBT), which targets the over-controlled temperament common among high-achievers.
Danielle works exclusively with adults who are ready to do the work. Her practice is private-pay, reflecting a mutual investment in outcomes.
What to Expect
Clinical Precision
Every intervention is selected for a specific reason and explained transparently. You will always know why you are doing what you are doing.
Direct Feedback
Danielle will tell you what she observes, including patterns you may not see. This is the kind of honesty that high-performers rarely receive.
Structured Sessions
Each session has a clear objective. Between sessions, you will have specific practices to implement. Progress is tracked, not assumed.
Warmth Without Performance
The therapeutic relationship is genuine but not performative. You do not need to demonstrate vulnerability to earn care.
Credentials
Licenses
- Licensed Marriage and Family TherapistState of Utah | UT LMFT #12426463-3902
- Licensed Marriage and Family TherapistState of California | CA LMFT #96675
Specialized Training
- Radically Open DBT (RO-DBT)Intensive Training
- EMDREye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
- Internal Family Systems (IFS)Parts-Based Therapy
- Pain Reprocessing TherapyPain Psychology Center, Beverly Hills
Find out if we are the right fit.
A 15-minute consultation to determine whether Danielle's approach aligns with what you need. No obligation. No pressure. No intake forms. Just a conversation.
Book a Free Consultation