Daniel Patten, LCSW

Daniel Patten, LCSW, focuses on helping people who are facing relationship strain, grief, depression, or major life transitions. He speaks plainly and aims to make the first step feel manageable. He encourages clients to notice their strengths and to use those strengths in everyday choices.

With 25 years of experience working in California, he uses practical tools from cognitive behavioral therapy to help people change unhelpful thought and behavior patterns. He also draws on acceptance and commitment therapy and dialectical behavior therapy techniques when they fit a person's needs. Sessions often include brief exercises to practice new skills between meetings.

Daniel values simple daily habits that support emotional well-being. He practices Dzogchen meditation and suggests most people try at least 15 minutes of meditation each morning to build calm and clarity. He explains strategies in straightforward language and gives clear steps clients can try at home.

He helps people tackle issues such as attachment concerns, caregiver stress, codependency, communication problems, and life purpose questions. He also supports those dealing with aging or hospice and end-of-life matters, and people coping with guilt, shame, or self-harm urges.

Daniel aims to work together with each person to set realistic goals and practical next steps. He focuses on what can change now and how to build on what already works in a person’s life.

Approaches that guide online sessions

Daniel integrates cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy into online work. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing small behavior changes to reduce distress. Acceptance and commitment therapy emphasizes values and committed actions, helping people move toward what matters even when hard feelings are present.

He also uses elements of dialectical behavior therapy to teach emotion regulation and distress tolerance skills when those are needed. Together these approaches give practical skills and a values-based direction for people facing relationship issues, grief, depression, and life transitions. Choosing the right mix is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals, try approaches in session, and adjust plans based on what helps most.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video sessions allow face-to-face work and skill coaching. Phone sessions can be a good option when bandwidth is limited or a quieter voice check-in fits a schedule. Live chat and text messaging support brief check-ins and ongoing practice between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, caregiving, or travel schedules and to keep momentum between appointments.