Dana Staub (she/her)

I am fortunate to have a wide range of experience working in a variety of treatment modalities and clinical settings, including mental health clinics, family service agencies, hospital settings, and private practice. I received my Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California with a concentration in mental health and pursued my doctorate in Psychoanalysis to deepen my theoretical knowledge and clinical training. My doctoral dissertation was on the use of fiction in Psychoanalysis. I received my Doctorate in Psychoanalysis from the Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis. I tailor my approach to treatment based on individual need. I believe that understanding one’s past can help to resolve issues in the present and that how one thinks influences how one feels. Positive lasting change is a unique individual process. One of the ways I help you live more fully is helping you get in touch with your personal strengths and resources.

Psychological conditions are not simply external problems to be overcome, but rather ways in which our unconscious is expressing conflicts and desires. The best way to understand one's internal world is with a non-judgemental stance, remaining curious rather than to pathologize. Understanding the root of symptoms can decrease depression and anxiety while increasing motivation and creativity. Gaining insight into one's experience encourages the ability to break unuseful patterns and helps create healthier ways of living and connecting with others.