About Dani
Hi, I’m Dani — a therapist in San Diego, and New York born and raised. California has been my home for what feels like a lifetime now, and I genuinely love it here. However, sometimes you can still hear my New York accent. It’s okay if you laugh.
Although my formal education is one of the things I am most proud of, my understanding of people reaches far beyond what I learned in a classroom. The diversity of people who populate my life — both personally and professionally — teaches me something about the nature of being human on a daily basis. And my personal experience with both the joy and the grief that life brings helps me show up with empathy and compassion in my work.
Why I Do This Work
Life sometimes takes unexpected turns. With the support of therapy, I believe that challenges can be met from a place of strength, and overcome with more grace than you might imagine right now.
I have experienced, and understand the depth of grief and sorrow that can come from both the sudden death of someone you love, as well as an illness that takes the life of someone who fought long and hard. I know the devastation of a long-term relationship that fails despite working hard to keep it together. There are people in my life who I love dearly, who have struggled with mental illness. I know the impact that can have on an entire family. I also know the empowerment and healing that comes from investing in the therapy process.
I’ve done my own deep work in therapy — including EMDR and Brainspotting — which gives me a felt sense of what I ask of my clients. I know what it takes to sit with something difficult, and stay with it long enough for it to change. That experience shapes how I show up in the therapy room.
My Work With You
My work as a therapist is something I’ve been doing for a long time, and I’m still passionate about it. I care deeply about my clients, and I’m invested in the quality of care I provide. To be allowed into the lives of each of my clients in such a unique way is an honor — a privilege that I take quite seriously.
I know how difficult it can be to open up to someone you’ve never met before about the things that are hardest to say out loud. If you decide to trust me to support you, I will make every effort to nurture, care for, and treat our relationship with the utmost respect. We will move at your pace. Your sense of safety always comes first.
Training & Approach
I work primarily through an attachment lens — always paying attention to the relational patterns that shape how we connect, how we protect ourselves, and how we heal. My clinical training includes:
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- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)— trained through the EMDR Institute, with advanced training including EMDR 2.0
- Brainspotting — trained through Pacific Counseling and Trauma Center, including a Masterclass with Brainspotting founder David Grand
- Somatic and parts-based approaches — woven throughout my work
- Traditional talk therapy — because sometimes that’s exactly what’s needed
Education & Credentials
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- B.A. in Psychology — University of California, Los Angeles
- M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy — Alliant International University
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist — California Board of Behavioral Sciences
- License #MFC 47574
- 20 years of clinical experience
- Professional member — California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
Outside the Office
I love the theater, and I’m a circus enthusiast. I spent time doing flying trapeze as a hobby — the fulfillment of a girlhood dream of being a circus princess. I believe in doing things that scare you a little. Turns out that’s good advice both on the trapeze and in the therapy room.
Ready to Connect?
If you’ve read this far, you probably have a sense of whether we might be a good fit. I hope you’ll reach out. Every new client starts with a free 15-minute call — a relaxed, no-pressure conversation to get acquainted before we commit to anything.
Danielle (Dani) Sowa, LMFT #47574 | San Diego, CA | TRICARE accepted