About Danielle Graddick

An Eclectic Approach To Therapy That Empowers Clients

As someone who has certainly experienced my own pain and suffering, I appreciate the vulnerability it takes to reach out to a psychologist for the first time. I understand that it can be hard to ask for and accept help. In my practice, I prioritize building trust and rapport with my clients because I get how difficult it is to be sitting on the other side of the couch.  

My specialty is helping children, adolescents, and adults overcome their issues with anxiety, depression, bereavement, and relationship struggles. My practice is eclectic but tailored towards empowering clients of color to live their best lives and become the best version of themselves.

Regardless of their age, I strive to make clients feel comfortable and welcome each time we begin a session together. When working with children, in particular, I foster a collaborative relationship to ensure I have their buy-in on how we approach therapy and discover solutions together. I value privacy and prioritize confidentiality in our relationship as well. 

I’ve received feedback over the years that my genuine, nonjudgmental nature allows my clients to feel heard and validated while encouraging them to comfortably share any issues they may be dealing with. I really pride myself on helping my clients process unnecessary shame or guilt—feelings that most of us struggle with. 

My Background

My background in psychology has largely been community-focused. Most of the populations I have worked with are from underserved populations. In graduate school, I specialized in forensic psychology and worked closely with the Court system. Many of my practicum experiences included conducting Court-ordered competency, not guilty by reason of insanity, risk, and psychodiagnostic evaluations. 

Mastering the assessment process taught me how to integrate all of the data presented to me in order to get a comprehensive understanding of the bigger picture. This is now a valuable skill I apply within my practice. Due to my forensic background, I am well-versed in ethics and law. As an example, confidentiality and consent are always top of mind for me when working with my clients. 

Prior to graduating summa cum laude from Wright State University’s doctoral program, I completed an internship at Bellevue Hospital in New York City, where I had the opportunity of working closely with children, adolescents, and their families from underserved populations. Many of my clients were acutely mentally ill or in crisis. After graduation, I completed my postdoctoral fellowship at a private practice where I provided parental capacity evaluations and offered individual and family therapy to families involved with the Division of Child Protection and Permanency. Currently, I maintain a part-time faculty position at Rutgers University in their Child and Adolescent Department, in addition to my private practice.  

My Approach

I believe the relationships we form throughout our lives are vital in helping each of us feel supported and loved. It is why I center my clients’ treatment on the authenticity and warmth of the therapeutic relationship we form with each other—everything else we do together will build upon that foundation. I also believe in an egalitarian approach in which I will guide the client forward while also collaborating with them to set treatment goals.

I aim to help my clients feel empowered and more confident as they gain clarity through therapy. It is especially rewarding for me to work with women of color and help them feel validated and understood—perhaps for the first time in their lives. I was inspired to work with clients of color due to the systemic injustices they face in the US and my desire to level the playing field for us. 

What makes my practice unique is my cultural humility; I have a passion for working with different cultures and expanding my knowledge of diverse beliefs, norms, and attitudes. I understand that cultural competency is a journey in progress. I regularly reflect on my own biases as I continue to learn about others’ experiences as it pertains to race, religion, skin color, gender, and sexual identity. Although I know I will never achieve cultural competency, the quest I am on to learn as much as I can is what keeps me honest and curious. 

I have the experience of being a Black woman in America and am an avid supporter of Black Lives Matter. I am also an ally of the LGBTQIA+ community. In my free time, you can find me spending time with my two cats—Charles and Darwin—or binge-watching Married at First Sight or Unsolved Mysteries. I love to take vacations when I am able to. I am also an amateur photographer who loves to be in nature.