Daniel Smolen

Daniel Smolen is a licensed clinical social worker with 30 years of experience. He helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family tensions, parenting strain, anger, and issues related to trauma and self-esteem. Daniel speaks English and practices in California.

He approaches therapy as a collaborative process. He treats clients as experts in their own lives and helps them build on strengths to meet current challenges. Sessions are practical and focused on small steps that can change daily routines and reactions.

Daniel uses mindfulness-based ideas alongside cognitive behavioral techniques. Mindfulness work builds the ability to notice thoughts and feelings without acting on them. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and helps create new, healthier patterns.

He has worked with many people over three decades on issues such as blended family stress, caregiver burden, communication problems, post-traumatic stress, self-harm, social anxiety, and young adult concerns. His style is steady and direct, with exercises tailored to each person’s situation.

For parents and caregivers who feel overwhelmed, he focuses on clear communication and practical tools to reduce reactivity. For those struggling with trauma or low self-worth, he balances present-moment awareness with concrete behavior changes. The aim is to leave sessions with a sense of direction and doable next steps.

Mindfulness and CBT approaches for online sessions

Daniel integrates Mindfulness Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in ways meant to help with everyday struggles. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention practices and breathing or noticing exercises to reduce reactivity and quiet racing thoughts, which can help with anxiety and stress. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at the connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and offers concrete tools to change patterns that worsen mood or conflict.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences, and may combine mindfulness exercises with cognitive-behavioral homework or skills practice. This is a joint process that adapts over time as needs change.

Confirm current session options before booking since formats are not specified here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time from the schedule. Licensed professionals often use these benefits to help people maintain consistency with therapy while balancing work, family, and caregiving responsibilities.