Dawn Stonebraker

Dawn Stonebraker is an Ohio-licensed independent social worker (LISW) with 16 years of professional experience. She encourages people to take the first step toward a more satisfying life and offers steady support through difficult transitions. Her manner is collaborative and straightforward, focused on practical skills and clear next steps.

Dawn has spent much of her career in aging and hospice settings, and she draws on that background when helping people cope with stress, anxiety, grief, and depression. She also addresses life changes that come from job loss, relationship endings, health declines, or other losses. Her approach treats those problems as common human responses, not personal failings.

In sessions she emphasizes building skills you can use day to day. That can mean practicing new ways to manage strong emotions, shifting unhelpful thoughts, or learning to tolerate uncertainty. Dawn frames therapy as a collaborative effort where clients bring expertise about their own lives.

She accepts that each person’s story is unique and aims to tailor methods to individual needs. That might include gentle mindfulness exercises, emotion-focused conversation, or practical behavior changes depending on what fits best. The goal is clearer coping and more steady functioning.

Dawn highlights grief as a broad experience that extends beyond losing a person. Job loss, illness, or loss of independence all prompt grief reactions, and she helps people find supports and pacing for that work. Her tone is encouraging and oriented toward small, achievable steps.

How her approaches translate to online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice what matters most and take action toward those values while tolerating uncomfortable feelings. It can be useful for anxiety, grief, and coping with life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on spotting and changing unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors, which can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety over time. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) centers on understanding and expressing emotions more clearly to improve emotional processing and relationships.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. Dawn will discuss goals, try options, and adjust methods as needed so the plan fits the client’s situation. That means trying concrete skill practice, emotion-focused conversations, or value-based exercises depending on what helps most.

If you are considering online sessions, confirm currently offered formats before booking since options are not listed here. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. They also let people use tools like guided mindfulness exercises or worksheet work between meetings, which can support steady progress.