Deanna Van Sickle, LISW, is a clinician with experience in the mental health field since 2016 and as a licensed social worker since 2020. Her passion for behavioral health is rooted in a genuine curiosity about people and the stories, experiences, and patterns that shape their lives. She especially values the “lightbulb moments” when clients begin to understand themselves in new ways and recognize their capacity for meaningful change. Deanna’s clinical focus centers on supporting adults navigating substance use disorders, mental health concerns, trauma, and major life transitions. She is particularly passionate about helping individuals understand the patterns underlying their thoughts and behaviors, strengthen emotional regulation, rebuild self-worth, and develop healthier ways of coping and connecting with others. Her work balances compassion with accountability while creating space for honesty, curiosity, and personal growth. Her therapeutic approach is trauma-informed, person-centered, and strengths-based. Deanna incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), psychoeducation, and relapse-prevention strategies. She believes in meeting clients where they are while encouraging them to recognize their strengths, develop practical coping skills, and take meaningful steps toward their goals. Deanna also values bringing creativity, curiosity, and appropriate humor into the therapeutic process, helping make challenging conversations feel more approachable and human. What Deanna enjoys most about her work is witnessing the moment when something finally “clicks” for a client. She finds it rewarding to help individuals connect their experiences, thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in ways that foster greater self-awareness and self-compassion. Watching clients recognize their strengths, rebuild trust in themselves, and understand that they are not defined by their past or their most difficult moments continues to inspire her. She also deeply values the genuine human connection that develops through therapy. Outside of work, Deanna enjoys spending time with her family and pets, crocheting, reading, and following soccer—especially during World Cup season. Naturally curious, she often finds herself exploring new interests, from psychology and philosophy to learning new languages and diving into interesting research topics. She also appreciates quiet evenings, good music, laughter, and creative activities that allow her to recharge.