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DD Portrait of Dara Damico

Dara Damico

Compassionate clinician blending skills and empathy

LCSW New York

Experience
26 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, LGBT
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages
English
Continue with Dara

About Dara

Dara Damico is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) based in New York who brings 26 years of experience to her work supporting people through depression, addiction, trauma, and a wide range of emotional challenges.

Background and approach

She blends evidence-informed methods with empathic listening to help clients identify strengths, clarify goals, and build practical skills for coping with stress, anxiety, mood shifts, and relationship concerns. Her background includes attention to issues such as gender dysphoria, substance use, obsessive-compulsive patterns, and caregiving stress.

Her therapeutic stance centers on collaboration and respect for each person's story, using client-focused techniques alongside cognitive behavioral strategies and other approaches to create tailored plans. Dara emphasizes building resilience and sustainable routines around sleep, eating, and daily functioning while addressing deeper wounds related to abandonment, attachment, or past trauma.

With attention to both immediate concerns and longer-term growth, she supports clients in developing healthier patterns, improving self-esteem, and finding clearer life purpose.

Practical therapeutic approaches for online care

Many clients benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy because it helps identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, offering concrete tools for anxiety, depression, panic, and obsessive-compulsive patterns. Client-centered therapy complements this by prioritizing empathic listening and respect for the client's perspective, creating a supportive space where personal strengths and goals guide the work. A DBT-informed approach can also be used to teach emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness when intense emotions or impulsive behaviors are an issue.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss symptoms, goals, and preferences and then tailor a plan that may draw from CBT, client-centered techniques, or DBT skills depending on what fits best for each person. The process emphasizes shared decision making and ongoing adjustment as progress is made.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase flexibility for people with busy schedules or mobility limits. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care, try different formats to see what works best, and access therapeutic support without travel time, while still working with licensed professionals to address emotional and behavioral concerns.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Dara focus on?
She works with a broad range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related concerns, and sleep or eating struggles.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is collaborative and client-centered, blending compassionate listening with practical strategies drawn from evidence-informed methods like CBT and DBT.
What is her professional background and experience?
She is a licensed clinical social worker with 26 years of clinical experience supporting people through mood, trauma, and substance-related concerns.
Where is she licensed and practicing?
She holds an LCSW license in New York; the license number on record is NY LCSW 101727 and her practice is located in New York.
Does she work with non-English speakers or international clients?
Her practice is conducted in English and she is not currently accepting international clients.
In what formats are sessions offered?
Sessions are available as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and schedules.
How are fees and payment handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin working together?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling a time based on the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyAddictionsLGBTTrauma and abuseDepression

Also works with

Intimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAttachment issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressControl issuesDrug and alcohol addictionGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPost-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaTraumatic brain injuryWomen's issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

26+ years

Licensed

New York

Languages

English