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Our Therapists › David Panahi
David Panahi, LCPCTherapist for adults in Wheaton, Illinois
I help adults work through anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship challenges, in person in Wheaton or online across Illinois.
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor · Illinois LCPC 180.013584
A steadier way to feel like yourself
By every outside measure, you are doing well. You work hard, you have achieved real things, and most people would never guess how tired and run down you feel. At some point you started believing the next success would finally bring some peace, and each time you get there, the feeling does not come. What is there instead is a steady undercurrent of anxiety and restlessness, that impostor feeling of not quite belonging, and a stream of negative self-talk insisting you are still not enough.
I think that points to one of our deepest longings, which is to be truly known. That can feel frightening too. Most of us want relationships where we can be ourselves and feel cared for without judgment, shame, or criticism, and most of us have learned to be careful about asking for that.
Many of the strategies we learned growing up once kept us safe. They shielded us from the hardest parts of life, and they worked, which is why we kept them. At some point those shields get heavy. Therapy is a place to look at them honestly and set down what is no longer doing the job it was built for.
That is not a figure of speech about humility. It means I am not going to hand you an interpretation of your life from across the room. If something needs saying, I will say it with care and clarity, because I value your time and will not circle around what matters. But you are the one who knows what it is like to be you.
My approach combines insight and action. We look at the younger parts of you, how they were shaped by hardship, and how they may still be calling the shots today. Alongside that, we build skills you can use the same week you learn them, things that settle your nervous system, steady you when emotions run high, and protect your time and energy. I do not force a single method. We shape the work around your needs, your goals, and your timing, and you always have a say in it.
I believe healing happens in safe connection. It is a privilege to sit with people in hard places and to witness their strength. You do not have to settle for an old normal. Together we can build a different way of relating to yourself and to the people around you, one that feels honest and free.
Outside the office
When I am not working, you will usually find me out in the yard, working on leather projects at my bench, or settling in with a good book or podcast. Most of all, I enjoy time with friends and family.
What I help with
I work with adults.
Individual
Relationships
Ages & format
Tools I draw on
I do not force a single method. These are the evidence-based approaches I return to most, woven around your needs and goals.
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, to help your brain work through stuck, painful memories.
Internal Family Systems
Meet the different parts of you with curiosity instead of conflict.
Acceptance and commitment therapy
Make room for hard feelings and move toward what matters to you.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Shift the thought patterns driving anxiety and low mood.
Alongside these, I draw on solution-focused strategies, attachment-based therapy, and mindfulness, so calm becomes something you can return to on your own.
Questions, answered
Nothing is really wrong. Is that a reason not to come in?
It is one of the most common things I hear, and it is usually said by someone doing well on paper and running on empty underneath. Nothing has to be visibly broken for therapy to be worth your time. If the next achievement keeps not bringing the peace you expected, that is worth looking at.
You say you are direct. What does that mean in a session?
It means I will say the thing that needs saying, with care and without circling around it. I value your time. It is never a lecture, and you will always have a say in what we work on and how fast we go.
Will we be digging into my childhood the whole time?
Only as far as it helps. My approach combines insight and action, so we do look at how earlier experiences shaped the patterns you live with now, and at the same time we build skills you can use the same week you learn them. If the balance is not right for you, say so and we will adjust it.
What health insurance are you accepting?
Our practice is in network with Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, Aetna PPO, and Cigna PPO, and I am also in network with UnitedHealthcare. Our intake team will verify your benefits before your first session so you know what to expect. You can also use an HSA card or pay out of pocket. Visit our Fees & Insurance page for details.
What happens if we are not a good fit?
That happens sometimes, and it is completely okay. If we are not the right match, we will work it out together and help you find another therapist, whether that is someone here at the practice or outside it. What matters most is that you get the right support.
Do I need to take medication to be in therapy?
No. You do not need medication to work with me. If it ever seems like it could help, that is a collaborative decision, and ultimately it is your decision.
More of our team
Not sure David is the right fit? These therapists work in similar areas. Our care coordinator can help you compare, and there is no awkwardness in asking.
