Danika Girdner

Compassionate support for relationships and families

MD, LCSW-C Maryland

Experience: 5 years in practice
Focus areas: Relationship, Family, Intimacy-related issues
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English

About Danika

Danika Girdner is a Maryland-based clinician who focuses on relationship and family concerns, including intimacy, parenting, LGBT issues, anger, and self-esteem. She brings five years of professional experience to work with couples and families navigating communication breakdowns, infidelity, blended family transitions, caregiving stress, and other interpersonal challenges.

Background and approach

Her approach balances practical skills with emotional understanding to help clients address both immediate conflicts and longer-standing patterns. Trained in several evidence-informed approaches, she integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, client-centered listening, the Gottman Method for couples, and mindfulness techniques to tailor care to each client’s needs.

Danika emphasizes collaborative work that builds clearer communication, healthier boundaries, and improved emotional connection. She is licensed in Maryland as MD, LCSW-C 24836, and offers services in English to clients within the state.

Approaches that guide online relationship and family work

Danika commonly draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in online work. CBT focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce distress and improve relationship interactions, which can help with communication problems, anger, and self-esteem. ACT helps clients clarify valued directions and build psychological flexibility through acceptance and mindful action, which can be useful for navigating commitment issues, caregiver stress, and anxiety around intimacy.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Danika takes a collaborative stance to determine what fits best for each client. She combines techniques and adjusts strategies based on the client’s goals, preferences, and the specific dynamics they bring to sessions so treatment stays relevant and practical.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, allowing clients to access care around work and family obligations. These formats make it possible to practice communication skills and therapeutic exercises in real time, maintain continuity when schedules change, and engage in regular check-ins without requiring travel.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she commonly address?

She works with relationship and family issues such as intimacy challenges, parenting conflicts, anger, self-esteem, and LGBT-related concerns, plus related topics like infidelity, jealousy, and blended family stress.

What is her therapeutic style and approach?

Her style blends empathy and practical skill-building, using approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, client-centered work, the Gottman Method, and mindfulness to meet different needs.

How much experience does she have?

She has five years of professional work experience supporting clients with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, and parenting concerns.

What credentials and where is she licensed?

She holds the credentials MD, LCSW-C with license number 24836 and is licensed to practice in Maryland.

Does she offer sessions in other languages or to international clients?

Sessions are offered in English, and she is not currently accepting international clients.

What session formats are available?

Available formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and schedules.

How are costs and payment handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with her?

Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Relationship issuesFamily conflictsIntimacy-related issuesParenting issues

Also works with

LGBTAnger managementSelf esteem

Additional focus areas

Avoidant personalityBlended family issuesCaregiver issues and stressCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDependent personalityDomestic violenceFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessInfidelityJealousy

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Gottman MethodMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused Therapy

Experience

5+ years

Licensed

Maryland

Languages

English