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Dana Pennington MSW, LCSW

Dana has a waitlist.

Therapy should feel like a collaboration, one where you feel supported, understood, and equipped with the tools to navigate life’s challenges. My approach is practical and adaptable, drawing from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, and Trauma-Informed Care to help you build resilience and confidence. Whether you’re working through anxiety, grief, or major life transitions, I provide guidance and encouragement as you move toward a life that feels more aligned and fulfilling.

I specialize in men’s mental health, anxiety, dating, stress, and grief. In my work with men and relationships, I integrate Relational Life Therapy, along with evidence-based approaches for trauma and depression. When supporting clients through loss, I draw on Megan Devine’s grief-informed framework, which honors grief as a natural human experience rather than something to “fix.”

My goal is to create a space where you can show up as yourself, explore what matters most, and develop tools that truly fit your life. Together, we’ll work toward clarity, strength, and deeper connection—both with yourself and with others.

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My Philosophy

My philosophy begins with the recognition that each person is unique, and with that uniqueness comes the need for a person-centered approach to therapy. I believe in creating comfort and building strong therapeutic rapport as the foundation for meaningful and lasting change.

From there, my work is collaborative and skill-focused, blending evidence-based practices and strategies for nervous system regulation and resilience-building. I aim to provide clients with practical tools that are adaptable to their lives, both during and beyond therapy.

At the heart of my philosophy is the belief that therapy should not only reduce distress but also empower people to build resilience, cultivate growth, and discover lasting change.

Therapeutic Approaches

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

  • Seeking Safety

  • Attachment Theory

  • Mindfulness

  • Hypnotherapy - Level I

  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

  • Bereavement Counseling

  • Cognitive Processing Therapy

Certifications

  • Certified Grief Care Professional

  • Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional

  • Level 1 trained in Clinical Hypnosis

  • Internal Family Systems informed (beginning certification in 2026)

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My Professional Background

I went to UNC Greensboro for my undergraduate degree in psychology. I took a gap year to live abroad and figure out my next direction. My experience doing community service work in South Africa, followed by working with Syrian refugees in Atlanta, I was able to learn that social work was my next step.

I completed my master’s degree in social work at UNC Charlotte. I have worked in a community-based recovery center specializing in both outpatient and intensive outpatient, a combat clinic, the emergency department and now private practice.

Fees and Insurance Information

I am currently paneled with BCBS, Aetna and MedCost. Some insurance companies will partially reimburse for out of network providers, I can provider a superbill for any client who would like to self submit.

Individual Therapy
Intake Session

$225/60min

Individual Therapy
Ongoing Sessions

$175/55min

Schedule a Free Consultation

"The essence of being human is that one does not seek perfection.” - George Orwell