We were lucky to catch up with Dr. Dana McNeil recently and have shared our conversation below.

Dr. Dana , appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.

Your background – how did you get started? Becoming a therapist was a second career for me. I had previously worked as a property claims for a large insurance company. My job was to collaborate with clients who had suffered a crisis to their home, business, and often times their whole community was impacted. I found myself needing to learn how to be a presence in people’s lives when tragedy was present. I also had to learn how to hold space for my policy holders to process what had just happened in their lives before I could even get down to the business of doing my job. I realized I had a talent for the act of sussing out what my clients needed in moments of distress, sadness, and lack of coping skills. These activities lead me to pursue becoming a therapist. Specially a couples therapist because my personality and communication style leads to having direct conversations with clients about the patterns of behavior they may be doing that is impacting their relationship in a negative way.

Biggest challenge you faced?
Working harder then my clients! One of the big skills you have to learn as a new therapist is make your cleints do the work and accept that not every client is willing to work as hard as we think they should. Also some clients will improve 50% and that is 50% better than before they sat on your couch-that’s a win!

Your Story – How did you become an expert in your business?
I aim to give my clients a unique experience that other therapy group practices don’t offer to their clients. We are a niche within a niche. We practice an evidence based type of therapy mixed with a boutique customer service experience. Our therapists really care about our clients and meet them where they are at authentically, empathetically, and are real people. We think outside the box when it comes to couples therapy. We are here to break the mold about stereotypes and shame based interventions. Our clients are part of the family.

What do you wish you knew when you started that you know now?
Oh so many things! What I learned has been reinforced by my life experiences. Everything happens for a reason and I probably wont want to accept or even truly understand in the moment why it has to happen. When I am able to slow my mind down, keep my goal in sight, get out of my stories about how things should go and believe the universe will take care of the details then I don’t have to feel so frustrated. I wish I had known back in the day that when events, peoples, and details didn’t go the way I expected or envisioned. In other words, embrace the lack of control!

What do you like best about what you do?
The best parts keep changing. Some days I love getting to work with my clients and flex my clinical skills. Some days I get interviewed for podcasts, write though leadership pieces, or give presentations. Other days I get to be a boss lady and oversee a group of inspiring, talented and awesome coworkers. Then there are days I get to be a supervisor and help shape the therapists of tomorrow. There are so man BEST parts about what I do.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am known as a certified Gottman Therapist (www.gottman.com). There are less then 1000 of us internationally. The Gottman Method is kind of the gold standard for couples therapy. Feel free to read my articles I have written for the institute https://www.gottman.com/author/dr-dana-mcneil/. I provide sessions in the traditional form of hour long weekly sessions but I also provide intensive 1-3 days long work with me and a couple. (www.therapygetaway.com). I also am the host of a podcast (https://www.sdrelationshipplace.com/podcast-the-d-spot/) and am the author of a book on modern relationships (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C2ZSBC6X).I am the founder of a group practice specializing in couples work (www.sdrelationshipplace.com)

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I have built my reputation on being authentic with my clients, staff, and those I encounter in life. I am a warm, non-judgmental and genuine therapist. My goal is for my clients to feel like you’re talking with a trusted confidant.

I have always attempted to make my client’s comfort a priority, for them to feel supported and safe so we can work to make their relationships better. Regardless of what they tell me, I am not surprised or scared. As I result there is nothing my clients can saw that will cause me to judge them.
My style of therapy works for my ideal clients because it is very much like my personality: down to earth, humble, funny sometimes with slight sarcasm, direct, and blunt in a loving way.

I do not place blame on either partner in the relationship. I don’t choose sides, but I will challenge everyone to change behaviors, so they can have the best relationship possible.

I am incredibly enthusiastic and tend to be an overachiever especially with clients who are motivated and open to change and grow.

I have a sense of humor about myself, and I encourage my clients to adopt the same attitude. These attributes combined with over the top customer service has helped set the stage for my reputation in my market.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

see my attached story as I added more about this topic :)

Contact Info:

• Website: www.confidentcouplestherapist.com / www.sdrelationshipplace.com
• Instagram: @confidentccouplestherapist / @sdrelationshipplace
• Facebook: @confidentcouplestherapy / @sdrelationshipplace

Image Credits
Bianca Cordero