I graduated from a M.S. mental health counseling program at Eastern Washington University (EWU) in 1995 and was certified in 1997. In addition to running a private practice in Seattle from 1995 through 2005, I also worked in an outpatient community clinic, an inpatient psychiatric hospital, at retreat centers, and a college counseling center before returning to graduate school in pursuit of a PhD in religious studies and cognitive sciences. I worked, studied, and lived in Europe, East Asia, and Africa before teaching 10 years at San Jose State University, with one of the most varied and diverse student populations in the entire world. This makes me very comfortable and confident working with many many different sorts of people as I want everyone and anyone to feel utterly at ease, welcome, and confident in my counseling practice.
My M.S. program at EWU was famous for its rigorous training in micro-skills and advanced therapeutic modalities, so while my general approach to counseling is short-term and solution-focused with special attention to the working alliance, emotional dynamics, articulating values and constructing meaning, I am also trained in gestalt techniques, clinical hypno-behavioral therapy, psychodynamic, art therapy, psychodrama, motivational interviewing, career counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). As an ex-Buddhist monk and meditator since 1987, I have a deep interest in psycho-spiritual practices from a wide variety of traditions, including shamanic practices; and with some background in hospice, grief, and bereavement counseling with families from many faith-traditions, I am comfortable with persons-of-faith and religious communities. So generally, as a transpersonal or humanistic counselor I can often help people articulate an authentic worldview or personal theology within which they can find or construct meaning, discover inner resources, creativity, and imagination that develops their deepest humanity, fullest potential for self-confidence, motivation, perseverance, resilience, healing, and even wisdom.
If you want to work with me, please be aware that I am unlikely to respond to messages over any weekend, that I have a strong preference to conduct counseling F2F over video calls but also use messaging in response to journal entries, for check-ins, to refer clients to educational resources, send homework assignments, and other practical yet limited purposes; and that, in recognition of their profound, universal, and deep influence, I am likely to insist that my clients 1) have a fitness routine, 2) practice mindfulness, and 3) practice digital hygiene especially related to sleep, social media, and communication.
Congratulations to you for having taken the first step in getting help for yourself and thank you for reading my profile. Wherever your path might lead, I am wishing you and yours the best in All Things. -- Jeff D
Additional areas of focus: Addictions, Relationship issues, Trauma and abuse, Sleeping disorders, Anger management, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Depression, Coping with life changes, Compassion fatigue, ADHD, Aging and Geriatric Issues, BDSM, Kink, Alternative Sex Culture, Cancer, Caregiver Issues and Stress, Chronic Pain Illness and Disability, Codependency, Commitment Issues, Communication Problems, Control Issues, Coping with Natural or Human-Caused Disaster, Dissociation, Divorce and Separation, Drug and Alcohol Addiction, Emptiness, Expats, Family of Origin Issues, Family Problems, Fatherhood Issues, First Responder Issues, Forgiveness, Guilt and Shame, HIV / AIDS, Hospice and End of Life Counseling, Infidelity, Isolation / Loneliness, Jealousy, Life Purpose, Men's Issues, Midlife Crisis, Military and Veterans Issues, Money and Financial Issues, Mood Disorders, Multicultural Concerns, Phobias, Post-traumatic Stress, Prejudice and Discrimination, Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling), Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-Love, Sex Addiction, Sexual Dysfunction, Sexuality, Smoking/Vaping Cessation, Social Anxiety and Phobia, Somatization, Workplace Issues, Young Adult Issues
Clinical approaches: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Existential Therapy, Hypnotherapy, Jungian Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy
CA LPCC 11528
WA LMHC 00005913
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Jeffrey Danese. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
Jeff gave me confidence from our very first session that he had the right knowledge and tools to help me cope with some debilitating 24/7 anxiety I was experiencing. Before connecting with Jeff, I felt like I didn’t have a single second of my day where I wasn’t in fight/flight/freeze mode.
Jeff is a straight shooter, and offers practical ideas for habits to incorporate into your daily life to tackle the challenges of depression, anxiety, ADHD, etc. I also appreciate the podcasts and YouTube videos he’s shared of mental health professionals that offer great insights on our ways of thinking and being human.
Thanks to Jeffrey and BetterHelp, I finally feel like I have control over my life again. I’ve learned to treat anxiety as a friend, (sometimes a silly friend that thinks he can predict the future), but also someone that gives me space to imagine that uncertain future and compels me to make that future better.
Written on Nov 01, 2022 after therapy with Jeffrey for 4 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, lgbt, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, sleeping disorders, self esteem, career difficulties, coping with life changes, coaching, and adhd
It has been a pleasure working with Jeff! His insight in several different belief systems, spirituality, and meditative practices is extremely helpful in expanding one's mentality on mindfulness. He has helped me to move past reactionary tools to manage anxiety, and shift more to neutrality toward all emotions, which has helped me immensely on a day-to-day basis. I highly recommend working with him if you are wanting to work toward embracing yourself in a more holistic way, and reduce fear/anger/resentment toward yourself.
Written on Oct 12, 2022 after therapy with Jeffrey for 2 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, eating disorders, self esteem, and coping with life changes
Denis has been a great partner in my journey so far. Thank you for being there.
Written on Oct 06, 2022 after therapy with Jeffrey for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, self esteem, coping with life changes, and adhd
Jeff is very insightful and helpful. Grateful that I found him.
Written on Aug 11, 2022 after therapy with Jeffrey for 4 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, lgbt, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, sleeping disorders, self esteem, bipolar disorder, and coping with life changes
I like that he references academic studies a lot as well as culturally relevant anecdotes from his experiences as a worldly person. He gives me examples from the Chinese language, Native American spiritual ideals and meditation practices he’s learned from time spent in studies with monks. I feel as though my entire being is being acknowledged and I had always preferred a female service provider previously. I feel so fortunate to have found him and have seen progress in my job and marriage over a short time.
Written on Feb 03, 2022 after therapy with Jeffrey for 10 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, and anger management
Jeffrey really helped me reduce my anxiety and develop a deeper understanding of happiness. He helped me with important life decisions and framing situations in a way that draws from his years of experience. He approaches situations in a calm and accepting demeanor. I would definitely work with him again for future sessions!
Written on Jan 28, 2022 after therapy with Jeffrey for 4 weeks on issues concerning intimacy-related issues, self esteem, career difficulties, and coping with life changes
