I’m Dana Schmalenberg, a psychotherapist with a background you won’t find on most therapy sites.

Before becoming a therapist, I spent 20 years as a Hollywood screenwriter. I know what it’s like to succeed on paper but still feel restless, burned out, or like your life no longer fits.

I’ve also worked in psychiatric hospitals, addiction treatment centers, and private practice — sitting with people in their darkest moments as well as in their quieter, “midlife recalculations”.

My style? Direct, compassionate, and often funny. I draw from narrative therapy, DBT skills, neuroscience, and non-dual awareness to help people find clarity and start making changes that last.