Shani Ben-Dov, LCSW

Shani Ben-Dov is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who helps people feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or worn out by daily life and caring responsibilities. She supports individuals dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship struggles, and compassion fatigue. Shani speaks English and Hebrew and practices from Connecticut. Shani’s approach is warm, direct, and collaborative. She invites clients to slow down recurring patterns and notice what lies beneath them. Sessions focus on understanding thoughts, feelings, and relationships, and on building clear, practical skills that fit each person’s life. Her background includes work in crisis response, behavioral health, and substance use with co-occurring conditions. She has experience supporting people affected by first responder stress and those facing caregiver issues and burnout. This practical experience informs her work with trauma, attachment concerns, and complicated family dynamics. In session she uses straightforward techniques drawn from evidence-based therapeutic techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy, along with trauma-informed methods and motivational interviewing. The goal is not to lecture but to collaborate on steps that feel doable and relevant. Shani emphasizes starting from curiosity rather than judgment. You do not need a fully formed plan to begin therapy; noticing that something isn’t working can be the first step. Her style aims to help clients make small, steady changes that add up to better daily functioning and less emotional exhaustion.

How therapeutic methods translate to online care

Shani draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy as part of her work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on noticing unhelpful thinking and testing new, more balanced thoughts to reduce anxiety and low mood. Dialectical Behavior Therapy emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and clearer communication for people who struggle with overwhelming feelings and relationship difficulties. Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each person to decide which techniques fit their goals, needs, and daily routines. Together they will try strategies, check what helps, and adjust the plan as needed. The practical benefits of online therapy can include easier scheduling and fitting sessions into a busy life. Online care may make it simpler to have a short check-in during a break or to remove travel time from a day that is already full. Because session formats were not specified in the biography, confirm current options before booking to know whether video, phone, or other formats are available and what will best suit your needs.