Dawna Silver

Hello, and thank you for taking the time to read my profile.

Sometimes depression or a difficult passage in life leaves us wondering not simply how to feel better, but how to live.

You may have lost your sense of direction, confidence or hope. Perhaps something unexpected has shaken the life you thought you knew. Or perhaps difficulties have been simmering for a long time, and you have reached a point where the old ways of coping no longer work.

No one escapes the challenges of being human. Loss, uncertainty, loneliness, changing relationships, aging, anxiety, depression and major life transitions can shake our understanding of ourselves and the lives we thought we were living. As painful as these periods can be, they invite us to look more deeply at what matters and at how we want to live.

Depression is an area of particular interest in my practice. Depression is much more than sadness. It can change our relationship with ourselves, with other people and with the future. We may lose access to hope, meaning, pleasure and the sense that our actions can make a difference. Sometimes the question becomes not simply, "How do I get rid of these symptoms?" but "What has happened to my life, and where do I go from here?"

Therapy offers a place to explore these questions without reducing your experience to a diagnosis or a collection of symptoms.

My approach is informed by depth and existential psychotherapy, which takes seriously the fundamental challenges of being human. Rather than assuming every painful emotion is something to be eliminated, we can become curious about what your experience may be telling you.

Since 2008, I have helped people navigate difficult periods in their lives. I am compassionate, honest, curious and encouraging. I do not see myself as an expert with answers about how you should live. Therapy is a collaborative relationship in which we bring our different forms of knowledge together: I bring years of clinical experience and psychological understanding, while you bring an intimate knowledge of your own life.

My work is informed by EMDR, particularly when trauma, difficult memories or entrenched emotional patterns are part of what is keeping you stuck. I draw from different therapeutic approaches rather than trying to fit every person into the same method.

Ultimately, I see therapy as more than symptom reduction. At its deepest, it can become a kind of soul work: an opportunity to understand yourself more fully, confront what is no longer working, reconnect with what matters, and create a life that feels more authentic and meaningful.

If you are struggling with depression, anxiety, loss, a major life transition, or questions about meaning, identity or the direction of your life, I welcome you to contact me.

I offer a free 15-minute telephone or video consultation so that we can talk briefly about what brings you to therapy and you can decide whether I might be the right therapist for you.