Dana Carmichael, MS, LMSW

Practicing Since: 2011

“If you’re not laughing, you’re not learning.” This is a sentence that Dana Carmichael’s father, the late Dr. Robert D. Carmichael, would always say at the beginning of one of his lectures. As a child, Dana took that as something her dad would say to his students just to make them laugh. As an adult and psychotherapist, Dana can now recognize the neurobiological and behavioral basis for this saying. The molecular mechanisms which drive brain development, learning, memory, and repair are all the same; the brain doesn’t reinvent the wheel. When diagnosed with a severe and persistent mental illness, however, re-wiring occurs. While others may not be able to see what is happening to our brains, they can see our faces; they notice the change in our behaviors. We’re not smiling. We’re not laughing. We’re not living. This is where Dana comes in.

Dana’s passion lies in helping people remember how to be their authentic selves, even when they feel their emotions, minds, and even their faith have betrayed them. While none of these feelings are true, we carry them as if they are. She views therapy as a conversation based on trust, honesty, transparency, and yes, even humor.

Dana holds dual master’s degrees in Neuroscience from Vanderbilt University and Clinical Social Work from the University of MD School of Social Work. Having practiced psychotherapy for 15+ years, Dana comes with extensive professional experience and training in areas of clinical social work, neuroscience, neuropharmacology, and education. While she has worked with individuals of all ages and backgrounds, she has specialized training in working with children and adolescents, Persons of Color (POC), the LGBTQ+ community, and young adults.

Dana currently lives with her boyfriend and their dog, Pepper. While Pepper loves their cabin in West Virgina, Dana and her boyfriend are torn between the cabin and the beach. Her three nephews are the loves of her life, and she is the certified “cool aunt” of the family, even though she’s the only aunt!

In her spare time, Dana loves pairing wine with food, good friends, laughter, and awesome stories. Her mom was her best friend, and she was a daddy’s girl. And as such, family is everything to Dana. Family is the reason that she views her clients, their families, and her role as a therapist as a familial collective. None of us were meant to be on this earth alone. Dana’s hope as a psychotherapist is that she can bring that perspective to each and every person.

Dana Carmichael is licensed in the state of Maryland (#19142) and is under the clinical supervision of Stefanie Plitt (#16101).

Engagement Badge

Awarded: 9/23/2024