Danuta Olson-Schuessler

Hi, I’m Danuta Olson-Schuessler, LCPC. I’m a warm, compassionate therapist who believes that therapy should be a place where you can be fully yourself—without judgment and without having to have all the answers.

I specialize in working with adults navigating trauma, addiction and substance use, relationship challenges, anxiety, depression, grief, and major life transitions. I earned my Master of Arts in Counseling from Webster University and have experience helping people understand patterns, heal old wounds, and create a life that feels more authentic and meaningful.

I believe there is a creative side to healing. Sometimes the most important insights come not from having everything figured out, but from becoming curious about ourselves, our stories, our emotions, and the patterns that shape our lives.

My goal is to create a genuine, comfortable space where you can laugh, reflect, explore difficult things, and grow—at your own pace.

My approach is intuitive, humanistic, collaborative, and creative. I believe that you are the expert on your own life, and therapy is a process of discovering what is already within you while developing new ways of understanding yourself and moving forward.

I draw from Humanistic and Jungian perspectives, as well as evidence-based approaches such as EMDR, CBT, DBT, mindfulness, and trauma-focused therapy. I’m interested not only in what is happening in your life, but also in the deeper patterns, beliefs, relationships, and experiences that may be influencing how you see yourself and the world.

I also appreciate the wisdom of Stoic philosophy—the idea that while we cannot always control what happens to us, we can develop greater awareness and choice in how we respond.

Therapy with me isn’t about checking boxes or following a rigid formula. We may talk, reflect, explore patterns, challenge old beliefs, or get creative with the process. I tailor our work to you, your personality, your goals, and where you are in your life.

Most importantly, I want therapy to feel human. You don’t have to perform, have everything figured out, or know exactly what to say. We’ll start wherever you are and take it from there.

Your first session is a chance for us to get to know each other and begin creating a space where you feel comfortable being yourself. There’s no need to have the “perfect” explanation for why you’re here.

We’ll talk about what brought you to therapy, what you’re hoping will change, and what has been happening in your life. I’ll also want to understand your history, strengths, relationships, and the things that have shaped you.

Rather than immediately jumping into solutions, I like to take time to understand the whole person. Together, we’ll begin identifying patterns, strengths, challenges, and goals that can guide our work.

You can expect a relaxed, nonjudgmental, and collaborative environment. We’ll start where you are, move at a pace that feels right for you, and figure out together what you need from therapy.

My hope is that you leave your first session feeling heard, understood, and perhaps a little more hopeful about what comes next.