About / FAQs

Hi, my name is Dr. Deason (but please feel free to call me Daniel) - I’m a Chicago-based psychologist, and I provide tele-health psychotherapy.

Currently I work in a solo private practice providing individual psychotherapy for adults and disability evaluations for military veterans.

I have worked in a variety of clinical settings previously, including outpatient, psychiatric inpatient and residential, university counseling, and Veteran’s Affairs. I have experience providing individual, couples, and group therapy since I first began my graduate training in 2013, and have worked in tele-health psychology services since 2019. I am primarily trained as a generalist, and have experience working with a wide variety of mental health conditions and disorders. I am also aware of the boundaries of my knowledge and training, and am committed to helping you find an appropriate mental health provider if I do not feel I have the necessary training to be helpful.

On a more personal note, I am a born and raised Okie (Oklahoman for those unfamiliar) and enjoy spending time with my partner Josh and our perpetually spoiled dog, Sybil.

My theoretical approach to therapy is primarily from a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) perspective. In less jargon, my approach is about improving your awareness about how the ways in which you think, feel, and behave are all interconnected. With this awareness, we start making gradual changes and using psychological science to close the distance toward your goals in therapy. I exclusively use approaches that are grounded in science and empirical research that have clear evidence of being helpful and successful. I also at times draw techniques from other science-informed approaches, such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy, the Unified Protocol, Motivational Interviewing, and Cognitive Processing Therapy. If you decide to schedule a free consultation with me, I’d be happy to talk more or answer any questions you may have about my approach to psychotherapy.

My clients describe me as warm, friendly, and easy to talk to. I think therapy is an understandably uncomfortable experience at times, especially when it’s new or something you’ve never done before. It’s difficult to be vulnerable, and therapy asks for a lot of vulnerability. A longstanding truth that has been found repeatedly in research about therapy is that the quaity of the working relationship‍ ‍between therapist and client strongly affected the effectiveness of therapy. For myself, I think a great place to start therapy is by building our working relationship, developing trust, and in turn, creating a gradually more comfortable space for vulnerability.

I believe therapy must be individualized to be effective. In other words, there are no “one-sized fits-all” therapy treatments. I believe humans are incredibly complex, made up of our various intersecting identities and also lived experiences. Therefore I spend time in treatment learning about you, your experiences, and how you see the world around you. An important part of that process is learning about what effective therapy might look like for you. Some people prefer worksheets and handouts in therapy, and other people find the idea of therapy “homework” off-putting. Perhaps you have a lot of experience in therapy and already know what you prefer, and perhaps you have no idea because you’ve never been in therapy before. I try to be flexible in my approach and to help us mutually learn what is most helpful and effective for you.

I believe collaborative therapy is the most effective therapy. Research into psychotherapy has found repeatedly that the relationship between client and therapist is a significant factor in the overall effectiveness of therapy. Therefore, I think it’s important for me to earn trust from the people I work with, and to ensure my clients feel heard and respected.

I believe in therapy that function is more important than form. That is to say, using the correct therapy terms, labels, and “jargon” are less important than discovering what is actually helpful and effective for reaching your goals and/or reducing symptoms. I don’t want to get you lost in “theory,” I’d rather provide you with real-world usable tools and skills to manage your symptoms as effectively as possible.

Interpersonally, I am affirming and supportive, and as Fully rooted in collaborative therapy being the most effective therapy. I believe trust is an essential component of successful psychotherapy, and throughout our work together, I’ll check in on the health of our working relationship and inquire about any changes we can make to ensure successful progress toward your goals

I am licensed Clinical Psychologist in the state of Illinois and Mississippi, and am certified through PSYPACT to see clients via telehealth in 40 states. Click Hereto see if your state is currently a part of PSYPACT.‍ ‍

At the time of this writing, the states that are NOT a part of PSYPACT are: Alaska, California, Guam, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oregon, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands

Services start by booking a free consultation. You can do so by clicking the “Shedule Free Consultation” button to the left on this page, or by clicking “Schedule Consultation” at the top of the page.

This is a specific type of assessment that requires specific training to perform. I do not have this training, and therefore I cannot provide these assessments.

My professional training and experience are exclusively with adults, and so I do not provide services for minors.

As a generalist, the types of clients I have worked with are quite diverse, both in their reasons for seeking therapy and in their cultural background. I especially enjoy working with people who are brand new to therapy, as therapy can be an uncomfortable experience at times, and I think I am good at easing clients into the process.

Also, if you’re the type of person to be reading an FAQ like this one when considering a therapist/psychologist (I would too), then we are likely a good fit!

I am admittedly a big nerd, mostly for video games, kung-fu movies, and college football. I also enjoy longboarding and other skateboard-adjacent activities, and have recently been immersing myself in the world of baking.