Dana Hall LCPC

Dana Hall LCPC Dana L. Hall Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
This profile is for educational purposes only. You matter!

Please seek individual counseling services as this is NOT a substitute for therapeutic services. Dana L Hall is a clinical therapist, author, and advocate. She offers telehealth therapy specializing in trauma, relational issues, and mood disorders. To learn more visit: DanaLHall.com

Some days it’s less “gentle parenting” and more “gentle screaming into the void while they argue about who looked at who...
10/26/2025

Some days it’s less “gentle parenting” and more “gentle screaming into the void while they argue about who looked at who first.”

Positive Self-Talk Alone Doesn’t Work!Ever notice that sometimes you can tell yourself “It’s fine, I’m fine, it’ll all w...
10/25/2025

Positive Self-Talk Alone Doesn’t Work!

Ever notice that sometimes you can tell yourself “It’s fine, I’m fine, it’ll all work out” and still feel completely not fine?
That’s because positive self-talk often comes from a protector part of us, the part that’s trying to keep things together and avoid being overwhelmed. Its goal is safety. It believes that if we just think positively enough or stay logical, the painful stuff won’t flood in.

But here’s the catch: that strategy bypasses emotional integration. We end up saying all the “right” things without actually feeling soothed or congruent inside.
Real healing comes when we pause the pep talk and listen underneath it. When we let the feeling part, the one that’s scared, tired, or sad, be heard and cared for, rather than silenced. This is where therapy can really be helpful! Reach out!

Remember self-talk can be helpful, but self-connection is what transforms. 💛

Fall Can Stir Up Our Mood As the Midwest shifts into shorter days and cooler air, many people start to feel their energy...
10/14/2025

Fall Can Stir Up Our Mood

As the Midwest shifts into shorter days and cooler air, many people start to feel their energy dip or their anxiety rise, and it’s not “just in your head.” Neuroscience shows that changes in light directly affect our circadian rhythm (the brain’s internal clock), which in turn influences serotonin, melatonin, and cortisol, the key players that regulate mood, sleep, and stress.

When daylight hours shrink, our brain produces more melatonin (making us sluggish) and less serotonin (lowering mood stability). The result? We might feel wired and tired at the same time restless, irritable, or emotionally flat.

But this seasonal shift doesn’t have to throw us off course. Here are a few simple ways to help your nervous system stay in sync this fall:

Get morning light: Step outside within an hour of waking, even on cloudy days. Natural light tells your brain it’s daytime and resets your circadian rhythm.
Move daily: Exercise boosts serotonin and dopamine, helping offset the natural dip that comes with darker months.
Keep a steady rhythm: Stick to consistent sleep and wake times to give your brain predictability.
Stay connected: The Midwest can get gray and isolating; social connection literally strengthens neural pathways that buffer against seasonal anxiety.
Consider a light therapy lamp: A small dose of bright light in the morning can mimic natural sunlight and lift mood.

Our bodies are designed to adapt, but they need signals of safety and consistency to do it well. Think of these habits as helping your brain “tune” itself to the rhythm of fall, instead of feeling like you’re fighting against it. 🍂

When the World Hurts, We Feel It Too!More and more of my clients are coming in deeply disturbed by the current social cl...
10/11/2025

When the World Hurts, We Feel It Too!

More and more of my clients are coming in deeply disturbed by the current social climate, and if you’re feeling it too, you’re not alone.

Our brains were built to keep us safe, but not necessarily to differentiate between what’s happening to us and what we see happening to others. The neural systems that detect threat, regulate fear, and process emotion aren’t finely tuned to know the difference.
When we watch vivid traumatic images or hear distressing stories, the same areas of the brain, the amygdala, insula, and other parts of the limbic system, light up as if the danger were right in front of us.
Trauma isn’t only what happens to us physically. Sometimes, what we see or hear can embed itself into our nervous systems, especially when it’s repeated, intense, or emotionally charged.
Our brain’s threat and memory systems don’t always distinguish between direct and vicarious trauma.

So if you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or heavy after watching the news, that reaction makes sense. Your body is responding as if it needs to protect you.

Be gentle with yourself. Limit exposure when needed. Move your body. Ground. Reach out.
Being aware of how our brains work helps us care for our emotional systems, and guard against unintended harm.

Let's talk relationship health.In every relationship, there are three parts:You. The other person. And the relationship ...
10/10/2025

Let's talk relationship health.
In every relationship, there are three parts:
You. The other person. And the relationship itself.

When we look at connection through this lens, it becomes clear that each part requires care and attention. A healthy relationship isn’t about merging into one identity, it’s about two whole people creating a shared space that both can safely inhabit.

Let’s talk about one key piece of that balance: autonomy.
Autonomy means maintaining your sense of self, your values, needs, and goals, even while deeply connected to another. In a healthy relationship, you don’t have to sacrifice autonomy to feel close. In fact, the healthiest partnerships encourage independence. They celebrate personal growth, support individual goals, and recognize that a thriving “us” depends on thriving “me’s.”

Ask yourself:

Do I feel free to be myself in this relationship?
Do we both have space to grow individually?
Do I support my partner’s independence as much as I seek connection?

When both people nurture their individuality and the relationship between them, that’s where true intimacy lives, not in control or dependency, but in mutual respect and trust.

Healthy love says:
“I choose you, and I still choose me.”



Let's talk about how anticipating your partner’s triggers being an act of care...Knowing what activates your partner’s a...
10/06/2025

Let's talk about how anticipating your partner’s triggers being an act of care...
Knowing what activates your partner’s anxiety, shame, or fear doesn’t mean you’re responsible for fixing it, it means you’re attuned.

When you learn to anticipate triggers, you’re saying:
✨ “I see what hurts you.”
✨ “I respect your nervous system.”
✨ “I want to be someone you feel safe with.”

Maybe you notice they pull away during conflict, or their tone changes when they feel criticized. Instead of reacting, you pause. You check in. You offer grounding, not judgment.

This isn’t about control, it’s about co-regulation. When both partners understand each other’s safety cues and triggers, healing happens in the relationship instead of alone.

Empathy is preventative care for connection. 💛

Thank you SAMHSA! Spot the signs, save a life. Learn the warning signs of suicide and share this graphic to help others...
09/30/2025

Thank you SAMHSA! Spot the signs, save a life. Learn the warning signs of suicide and share this graphic to help others recognize them.

If you see these signs in someone, urge them to contact a mental health professional or the 988 Lifeline at 988Lifeline.org

May you find some glimmer today.
09/30/2025

May you find some glimmer today.

Let's talk about relationship cognitive dissonance...It’s common to downplay mistreatment in close relationships as a wa...
09/26/2025

Let's talk about relationship cognitive dissonance...
It’s common to downplay mistreatment in close relationships as a way of protecting ourselves from pain.

We might think things like:
👉 “She can be hurtful, but she’s still my sister.”
👉 “He yells sometimes, but he really loves me.”

These thoughts allow us to hold onto both love and harm without fully facing the conflict between them. It’s a form of self-protection but over time, it can keep us stuck.

Healing often begins with gently acknowledging both truths: you can love someone and still recognize that their behavior hurts you.

As parents, we all want to be open and honest with our kids, but sometimes how much we share can place a heavy burden on...
09/23/2025

As parents, we all want to be open and honest with our kids, but sometimes how much we share can place a heavy burden on little shoulders.

Children thrive when they feel safe, supported, and free to focus on being kids. Sharing adult struggles, like financial stress, relationship conflicts, or personal insecurities, can unintentionally shift that weight onto them.

Instead, give kids age-appropriate honesty paired with reassurance:
✔️ “We’re working on it, and you don’t have to worry.”
✔️ “It’s okay to feel upset, thank you for sharing with me.”
✔️ “You are safe and loved.”

Protecting kids from adult concerns isn’t about secrecy, it’s about creating a stable environment where they can grow without carrying responsibilities that aren’t theirs.

💬 Parents, what helps you decide what’s okay (or not okay) to share with your kids?

Trauma isn’t just a story in your mind, it’s an experience your whole body remembers. That’s why healing involves more t...
09/18/2025

Trauma isn’t just a story in your mind, it’s an experience your whole body remembers. That’s why healing involves more than talking, it’s about regulating your nervous system, building safety in the present, and allowing your body to relax and trust again.

This can look like:
Grounding practices (deep breathing, walking, sensory soothing)
Creating safe, supportive environments
Building relationships that feel steady and trustworthy
Practicing self-compassion and patience with your healing process

You are not broken, your body just learned how to survive. Now it’s learning how to feel safe. 🌸

BPD, Bi-Polar, Anxiety, Depression. It's okay to talk about it.

Address

Downers Grove, IL

Telephone

+1 708-691-9577

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Dana Hall LCPC posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Dana Hall LCPC:

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category

How are you?

Do you want things to be different? Maybe you’ve experienced the feelings of failure, worthlessness, or worry. Perhaps, the past has a hold on you and you feel ‘stuck.’ You are not alone; we can get your life where you want it to be. No judgement. No pressure. This is a safe place to talk about hard things. Don't worry about knowing exactly what you want, we can sort that out together. You'll have a partner in this process; send a message and schedule a consultation today.

Dana has an extensive background working in the field of education and mental health. She holds advanced degrees in clinical psychology and is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the state of Illinois with over 15 years of experience in the field. Before entering private practice she worked for several of the top therapeutic treatment facilities, served as a crisis management specialist, professional consultant, educator, and supervisor. Her passion and love of the arts led her to become a founding member of the first public high school for the arts in Chicago, where she developed their Wellness & Counseling Department. She has since transitioned back to private practice to get back to her professional roots. She feels the therapeutic relationship is one of the most powerful and unique opportunities we have to bring about lasting change; therefore she respects the integrity of each client's process and her ability to walk some of life's journey together with her clients. Her motto has become: "Every day is your chance to make your life what you would like it to be." Therapeutic Style She practices a blend of researched-based clinical orientations to enrich her holistic approach to psychotherapy such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, Emotion Focused Therapy, ACT, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Family Systems Theory- which are adjusted & tailored to fit each client's needs and goals. Since she is also well-versed in the school-system and holds a educational Type 73- she welcomes the opportunity to consult on IEP and 504 plans. She has taught courses at the college level on Mindfulness, DBT, Gender Dysphoria and is an experienced group leader along with an avid researcher and life-long learner, priding herself on utilizing best-practices to treat a host of mental health disorders. Her specialties include but are not limited to: Mood Disorders (Depression/Anxiety/Bi-Polar), Addiction, Gender Dysphoria, Trauma, Life Transitions, Couples Counseling, Family Conflict, and acting out behaviors. Dana Hall holds specialty and advanced certifications in the follow areas: ​Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) through the International Association of Trauma Professionals (IATP). Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP-II) Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (Institute of Certified Anxiety Treatment Professionals) Certified Family Trauma Specialist (IATP) Personal Statement: “I believe in acceptance of all humans regardless of any emotional, physical or psychological burdens they may carry. I do not shy away from any issue or person, and carry no judgment or fear into my clinical work. I believe in authenticity and healing. Therapy needs to be a safe place to explore.”