Dawn Antal, LICSW

Dawn Antal is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) practicing in West Virginia and a Certified Trauma Therapist with 15 years of clinical experience. She works with adults facing a variety of concerns, including stress, anxiety, depression, substance use, trauma, and emotional abuse, and supports clients through grief, self-esteem challenges, and the recovery process. As a LICSW, she is trained to provide clinical social work services and therapeutic care rooted in professional social work standards.

Dawn’s therapeutic style is inviting and interactive, grounded in compassion, respect, and sensitivity. She draws on evidence-based methods including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Humanistic Therapy to help clients build coping skills, explore motivation for change, and strengthen self-awareness. Her approach is adaptable and is tailored to each person’s unique needs and goals.

Dawn encourages prospective clients to take the first step toward change and approaches therapy as a collaborative process. She aims to create a supportive environment where individuals can address ongoing concerns, develop practical tools, and move toward greater well-being.

Evidence-based approaches for online therapy and recovery

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and learning skills to change reactions and behaviors - it is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress-related concerns. Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative method that helps people explore and strengthen their own motivation to change, which can be especially useful for addictions and stages of ambivalence. Humanistic Therapy emphasizes personal growth, self-awareness, and the therapeutic relationship, supporting work on self-esteem, life purpose, and healing from emotional wounds.

Selecting the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey. Dawn works collaboratively with clients and licensed professionals to determine which methods best match each person’s needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting over time as progress unfolds.

Online therapy offers practical benefits - clients can meet by video call, speak by phone, or use live chat and text-based messaging to fit sessions into busy schedules or accommodate mobility and location constraints. These options increase flexibility and make it easier to access consistent support from a qualified therapist.