Dani Marietti, LCSW – Child, Adolescent, & Young Adult Therapist

Dani Marietti believes therapy works best when clients feel safe, understood, and accepted for who they are. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), she provides therapy for children, adolescents, and young adults ages 4–28. Above all, Dani creates a warm, collaborative, and affirming environment where clients can feel comfortable being themselves.

Supporting Children, Teens, and Young Adults

Dani supports clients experiencing anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, emotion regulation difficulties, relationship challenges, and major life transitions. In particular, she has extensive experience working with adolescents. She also provides an affirming and supportive space for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults.

Because every client has different needs, Dani uses an individualized and strengths-based approach. Together, she and her clients identify strengths, develop practical skills, and establish meaningful goals for therapy.

A Collaborative Approach to Therapy

Dani believes clients should be active participants in the therapeutic process. Therefore, she works collaboratively to understand each client’s experiences, needs, and goals. Rather than using the same approach for everyone, she adapts therapy to the individual.

Additionally, Dani focuses on building skills that clients can use outside of sessions. As clients develop new strategies, they can practice applying them at home, at school, in relationships, and throughout daily life.

Evidence-Informed Therapy

Dani integrates several evidence-informed approaches into her work. For example, she draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), play therapy, sensory-based interventions, mindfulness, and elements of Internal Family Systems (IFS).

At the same time, Dani recognizes that therapy does not always need to happen through conversation alone. This is especially important when working with children and adolescents.

Making Therapy Engaging

For many young clients, creative activities provide meaningful ways to communicate and learn. Therefore, Dani may incorporate games, art, movement, sensory activities, and other interactive approaches into sessions.

As a result, therapy can feel more natural and engaging. More importantly, these activities can help children and teens practice coping, communication, and emotion regulation skills in ways that feel relevant to them.

Partnering With Families

Dani values strong, trusting relationships with both clients and their families. When appropriate, she partners with parents and caregivers to support a child’s progress.

In addition, family collaboration can help reinforce new skills outside of therapy. By working together, families can better support positive changes at home and in everyday situations.

Building Confidence and Resilience

Ultimately, Dani’s goal is to help each client build resilience and feel more confident navigating life’s challenges. She helps clients strengthen coping skills, improve emotion regulation, and develop strategies they can continue using as they grow.

Most importantly, Dani strives to create a therapeutic environment where clients feel heard, respected, and supported throughout the process.

Education & Credentials

Dani earned her Bachelor of Arts in English Writing and her Master of Social Work from Carroll College in Helena, Montana. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Montana and recently relocated to the Chicago area.

Her Illinois LCSW license is currently pending, with final approval expected by fall 2026.