Meet Daniela
Serious about the work. Human about the rest.
Hi, I'm Daniela, though many people in my life call me Dani. Either is perfectly fine with me.
I'm a mental health counselor associate who genuinely enjoys getting to know people and their stories, the things that make them who they are, and the experiences that have shaped how they move through the world. I believe therapy is most meaningful when you can show up as your whole self, not just as the person experiencing the problem that brought you through the door.
I didn't always know I would become a therapist.
I knew early on that I wanted to work with young people in some capacity. For a while, I thought that meant becoming a pediatrician, until I realized I wasn't particularly interested in the whole poking kids with needles part.
As I got older, my path began to take a different shape. Like most people, I've had my fair share of difficult seasons; times of loss, uncertainty, family challenges, and figuring out who I was and what I wanted my life to look like. Those experiences taught me how complicated life can be, and how meaningful it can be to have the right support while you're trying to make sense of it.
When I was 18, my mom encouraged me to attend a personal development training. To be honest, I really didn't want to go. At the time, she saw value in the experience that I couldn't yet see for myself, and she pushed me to give it a chance.
I walked into that experience not really knowing what to expect or why I was there. But what I initially saw as something I had to get through became one of the most meaningful experiences of my life.
I had the opportunity to reflect on my values, reconnect with myself, think about the life I wanted to create, and consider where I wanted to go next. I left with a different understanding of how powerful it can be to have the space and support to slow down, look inward, and consider what really matters to you.
It was an unexpected turning point. I went because someone else saw value in it before I could, and I left realizing that I wanted to create that same kind of space for other people.
That experience helped lead me toward counseling and shaped something I still believe today: sometimes we don't need to have all the answers before we begin. Sometimes we just need someone to help us see what might be possible.
How I found my way to therapy
Why I believe in therapy
One of the things I love most about therapy is that its impact doesn't necessarily end when a session does.
I believe that when someone feels genuinely understood, learns something new about themselves, or begins to move through the world a little differently, that change can ripple outward. It can influence the way they communicate with a partner, show up for their family, respond to a child, navigate a friendship, or simply understand themselves.
I've always been someone people turn to. I've been told that I'm a source of energy and light, and I've come to see that part of myself as something I want to share with others. I don't believe I need to have every answer to be helpful. I'm still learning, growing, and becoming too. What I can offer is genuine curiosity, presence, encouragement, and a willingness to sit alongside someone as they figure out what comes next.
I think about therapy as a kind of ripple effect. I may only work directly with one person at a time, but the things we explore together can continue beyond the therapy room. When someone reconnects with themselves, finds a little more confidence, learns to respond differently, or discovers a new way of understanding their own story, they carry that with them.
If I can offer someone even a small piece of the energy, perspective, or light that helps them reconnect with who they are, and they carry that with them into the rest of their life, then the impact of our work together can become much bigger than either of us may ever see.
What I bring into the room
I can handle the hard stuff with you.
And it doesn't all have to be serious and painful all the time.
I bring warmth, curiosity, genuine enthusiasm for people, and a belief that you are more than the thing that brought you to therapy.
I also bring a willingness to sit with the hard stuff. Therapy can involve painful conversations, uncomfortable realizations, and moments when we have to look at things we'd rather avoid. I'm not afraid of those moments, and you don't have to navigate them alone.
There can be laughter. There can be curiosity. There can be moments when something finally clicks, or when you leave a session thinking, “Ah, I feel a little lighter.” Sometimes we might even find something to giggle about in the middle of a difficult conversation.
I want there to be room for all of it. The difficult and the hopeful, the serious and the silly, the moments of uncertainty and the moments when something begins to make sense. You don't have to leave parts of yourself at the door to be in therapy.
Dani & Daniela
Most people in my life call me Dani.
Daniela is the name you'll see professionally, but both are me. I've always thought of Dani as the part of me that's playful, energetic, curious, and always looking for the next experience, adventure, laugh, or little bit of joy. Daniela is the part of me that's thoughtful, driven, grounded, and deeply committed to the work I do and the people who trust me with their stories.
For a long time, I thought of those names as representing different sides of who I am. However, the older I get, the more I appreciate that I don't actually need to choose between them.
I can be ambitious and silly. Serious and playful. Thoughtful and spontaneous. I can care deeply about my work and still want to laugh, explore, and enjoy the life I'm building.
And I think therapy can make room for that, too. You don't have to choose which parts of yourself get to show up.
Playful. Curious. Energetic. Finds the joy.
Thoughtful. Driven. Grounded. Takes the work seriously.
Education
I earned my Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Antioch University Seattle. Before becoming a counselor, I earned a B.S. in Psychology and a B.A. in Sociology from Washington State University, with a minor in At-Risk Youth and Spanish.
Clinical Experience & Training
My clinical experience has included working with children, adolescents, young adults, and families navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, emotional dysregulation, family conflict, grief and loss, behavioral concerns, and life transitions.
My clinical training includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). I am currently completing formal training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and incorporate DBT-informed skills and interventions into my work. I also incorporate Internal Family Systems (IFS)-informed interventions into my work when appropriate.
I've also completed a Trauma Certificate through Antioch University Seattle and continuing education in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD. I believe good clinical work requires staying curious and continuing to learn, and I value bringing that ongoing growth into the work I do with clients.
Credentials
Daniela Ramirez Quintana, M.A., LMHCA
Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate
Services are available in English and Spanish
Maybe this is where you begin.
You don't have to know exactly what you need from therapy before you reach out...