Dawn Stonebraker, LISW

Dawn Stonebraker is an Ohio-licensed social worker (LISW) with 16 years of experience. She has a background working in aging and hospice settings and supports people facing stress, anxiety, grief, depression, and large life changes.

She often helps people who are managing loss that goes beyond bereavement, such as job loss, relationship endings, or the loss of independence after illness. Dawn talks through practical coping skills and ways to build on strengths people already have. She frames change as something to be managed rather than something to be blamed on others.

Her work draws on several evidence-informed methods including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Client-Centered Therapy. She also uses elements from Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Emotionally-Focused Therapy when they fit a person's goals. Sessions emphasize clear skills and everyday practices rather than jargon or abstract theory.

People who come because family patterns still shape their choices will find attention to family of origin issues alongside relationship and intimacy concerns. Dawn encourages people to notice patterns that come from their upbringing and to try new ways of responding in current relationships.

Her approach is collaborative. She treats clients as the expert on their lives and works with them to pick practical steps to reduce distress and increase functioning. For someone juggling caregiving, health challenges, or career transitions, she focuses on manageable strategies that fit day-to-day life.

Therapeutic approaches and how they work online