About Dr. Daniel Novak

Daniel Novak, PhD, LCSW, LICSW
Certified EMDR Therapist

“Transformation literally means going beyond your form”

Wayne Dyer

In the early 1990s, I worked as a preschool teacher at the Vanderbilt Early Education Center in New York City. During that time, I developed a deep interest in child psychology and family therapy. What began as curiosity soon became a passion—and the beginning of a personal and professional journey that eventually led me to the privilege of helping others heal.

I earned my undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees from Indiana University. For more than twenty years, I have served in both clinical and leadership roles in community mental health. My experience includes outpatient psychotherapy, residential treatment, home-based mental health programs, bereavement services, therapeutic foster care and adoption, and domestic violence services.

While working at Indiana University Health in Indianapolis, I helped further develop the pediatric bereavement program at Riley Hospital for Children. In that role, I also provided training for medical staff on cultural diversity in grief, compassion fatigue, and the emotional impact of caregiving.

From 2003 to 2016, I served as Associate Faculty at the Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) School of Social Work, where I taught courses in Human Development, Social Policy, Leadership, Social Work Practice, and Cultural Diversity.

My therapeutic approach is integrative and holistic, drawing from psychodynamic, relational, and trauma-informed perspectives. I also incorporate somatic awareness and mindfulness-based practices to help clients reconnect with their bodies, regulate emotional experience, and cultivate greater presence and self-compassion. I believe that healing often occurs not only through insight, but also through developing a deeper awareness of the body, emotions, and inner experience.

I have been a psychotherapist in private since December 2011 and currently practice in West Linn, Oregon. I am licensed in Oregon, Idaho, Florida, Indiana, and Washington.

I consider it a privilege to accompany people on their journey toward healing, resilience, and a fuller experience of life.