Dan Brandys
Dan Brandys is currently a second-year graduate student at Northwestern University’s (NU) Master of Arts in Counseling program. Dan earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), where he majored in Clinical/Community Psychology and minored in Criminology, Law, & Society.
Dan has served as a practicum graduate student therapist at the Bette D. Harris Family & Child Clinic at NU’s Family Institute and as a volunteer virtual crisis counselor for the Crisis Text Line. Further, Dan worked as a cross-categorical teacher aide at Champaign Central High School and as an undergraduate summer intern at the Pediatric Developmental Center at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago, collaborating with adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and/or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
He served as a lead research assistant in UIUC’s Project on Life Experiences (PLE) Research Lab under the direction of Dr. Thomas Kwapil, conducting a year-long project that explored multidimensionality within the bipolar spectrum. Dan also served as Vice President of UIUC’s Ukrainian Student Association—where he engaged in volunteer, fundraising, and advocacy work to support humanitarian efforts for those impacted by the war in Ukraine in 2022.
Dan believes that each individual possesses an array of intersectional identities, defining qualities, and lived experiences: all of which inform one’s presentation of self and presenting mental health concerns. Therefore, his humanistic and relational approach to therapy—bolstered by psychodynamic modalities and evidence-based practices (e.g., Acceptance and Commitment Therapy [ACT])—is tailored to meet each individual’s unique needs. He strives to establish a collaborative, comfortable, and judgment-free environment with clients on their personalized therapeutic journey of holistic and empathic self-exploration.
Dan values the power of self-care. When he is not at school or at work, he watches movies; exercises; creates graphic designs; practices violin; spends time with family and friends; and is always on the lookout for the next new spot to get a coffee.
