Rachel Daggett, LMFT

Why I became a therapist

I’ve always been drawn to art, poetry, animals, and people; always searching for meaning and deep connection. As a quiet, sensitive, observant child, the intricacies of the human condition and the flow of mysterious forces in life always intrigued me.

I became intimately familiar with my own mental health challenges and family system functions (and dysfunctions) in my teens and 20s. With the support of therapists and mentors who met me on a truly human level, without judgment or condition, I was able to grow into myself in the messiest and most authentic way. That experience inspired me to become an academic and professional who can offer others that same kind of stabilizing presence and trust in event the darkest, messiest times.

Why I love this work

Sitting across from people who are genuinely doing their best, and who want to do and be better for themselves, those around them, and the world — it's the best accountability ever. I find so much meaning in witnessing people show up honestly and work toward the lives and versions of themselves that they want.

Who I’m most drawn to supporting

Trauma survivors, teens (and their parents), people in their 20s who are finding themselves, and new moms who are re-finding themselves. I love supporting teens and adults who are working through eating disorders, body image, PTSD, anxiety, depression, or mood challenges. I welcome neurodivergent clients, including ADHD and high functioning autism. And I love supporting men who need a warm, nurturing, yet firm holding space to do honest work on themselves, and be accountable.

My therapy style (and how I balance warmth & accountability)

Let's sit in a low-lit room and get to know your inner demons, shall we? I know they have a lot to say and a lot to teach us about what you really need.

My style is warm, compassionate, chill, and real. Sessions are generally unstructured (with the exception of EMDR or when more direction is warranted), explorative, curious, calm, and sometimes playful — shaped by what you need that day and what patterns or goals we are working on. You can usually find me barefoot and potentially in yoga pants, so come as you are.

Connection comes first. Once there’s trust and you decide you actually like me and want to sit in a room with me for an hour at a time, we turn toward the hard stuff. I hold clients firmly with empathy and validation while also challenging patterns and blind spots that may be keeping you stuck or unhappy.

Approaches & modalities I use

I have extensive training in EMDR, and also draw from ERP, EFT, IFS, Mindfulness, Psychodynamic, Narrative and Creative Expression, with a Family Systems lens. I generally do not practice from a behavioral or CBT lens, though I do use some of those interventions for certain clients and diagnoses. I am not an “expert” in any type of therapy in particular, as I believe different people need different lenses, approaches, and strategies.

I continuously train, learn, and consult in order to be up to date with the latest in modern neuroscience and psychotherapy, but I remain rooted in the simple foundations of our profession; joining with people and helping them feel seen, heard, empowered, and doing no harm.

We’ll choose together what approach or modality fits you best.

How we’ll begin

There’s an assessment phase (required to help me understand where you come from and where your life has taken you, and to build a framework for our work together), but I keep it as human and informal as possible. We start by talking — learning your story, what hurts, what helps, and what you want for yourself. My core agenda is that you feel comfortable and like/trust me enough to do the real work together over time.

What therapy with me feels like

Clients often describe me as warm, easy to talk to, compassionate, knowledgeable, and real. I bring a calm, grounding presence that makes it easier to be open and honest. I love using psycho-education — helping you understand why you think, feel, or react the way you do — because that clarity is often empowering AND normalizing.

My vibe shifts with you: some days we laugh, some days we explore hard emotions, some days we rant or decompress. I meet you exactly where you are, with a healthy sprinkle of “where does that come from” and a dose of “what’s next”.

What helps people heal

Safety. Being shown another way. Experiencing discomfort without running from it. Experiencing raw anguish without judgment.

What I hope you take with you

That you matter. Your words and your past matter. And you deserve to live into the healed, untethered version of yourself.