Daniel Smolen, LCSW

Daniel Smolen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 30 years of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, relationship and family concerns, parenting strain, and depression. He works with people facing anger and trauma, and supports those trying to build self-esteem and healthier social connections. Daniel speaks English and practices in California. He approaches therapy believing each person knows their story best. Sessions focus on practical steps and building on strengths. He aims to make the first steps feel manageable and respectful of each person's pace. Daniel commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions influence one another to create change. He also uses Mindfulness Therapy to help people notice their reactions and choose different responses in stressful moments. Over his career he has helped people with blended family challenges, caregiver stress, communication problems, post-traumatic stress, self-harm concerns, and issues common in young adults. He also has experience with social anxiety, disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD), and LGBTQ-related concerns. Daniel invites clients to take the first step and complete a short matching questionnaire to begin. He structures sessions to focus on what matters to each person, with clear goals and practical tools to try between meetings. Background and approach are collaborative and straightforward. Daniel emphasizes skills people can use day to day and works with them to adapt those skills to real life situations.