Dr. Dan Goldstein is a Nashville-based counseling psychologist, Certified Group Psychotherapist, and the clinical director and co-founder of Nashville Psych. His clinical work centers on interpersonal process group therapy for adults who want to better understand themselves, their relationships, and patterns that shape their lives.
Dan approaches therapy with empathy, curiosity, authenticity, humor, and a quiet openness. His work values honesty, emotional courage, and the possibility of meaningful change through connection.
Who Dan works with
Dan often works with people who have already developed meaningful insight through therapy, reflection, or personal growth but continue to find themselves in familiar emotional or relationship patterns.
They may understand why a pattern exists yet still have difficulty changing it in their everyday relationships. They may struggle to express emotions and needs, trust others, navigate conflict, or feel fully known in close relationships.
Dan’s interpersonal process groups may be especially helpful for adults who want to:
- Understand recurring relationship patterns
- Express emotions and needs more openly
- Develop greater trust and intimacy
- Work through conflict, boundaries, or disconnection
- Better understand their impact on others
- Move beyond insight toward meaningful relational change
In group, clients can notice patterns as they unfold. They can also receive thoughtful feedback and practice new ways of connecting within a supportive therapeutic setting.
How Dan works
Dan’s primary clinical focus is interpersonal process group therapy. He has come to see group as one of the most powerful settings for deeper psychological work. He has found this particularly true for people who understand a great deal about themselves but still feel stuck in long-standing emotional or relational patterns.
His groups are grounded in modern psychoanalytic and interpersonal traditions, with close attention to how relationships shape identity, emotion, and change. Rather than only discussing situations outside therapy, members can explore what happens between people in the room.
This creates opportunities to notice familiar patterns in real time, understand how others experience them, communicate more openly, and experiment with new ways of relating.
Areas of focus
Dan’s work includes:
- Interpersonal process group therapy
- Long-standing relationship patterns
- Emotional intimacy and vulnerability
- Training groups for therapists
- Couples and family relationship dynamics
- Processing difficult past experiences
- EMDR and SomEx-informed work
- Clinical supervision and consultation
Individual sessions, EMDR, and SomEx
Dan’s practice is primarily group-based. He meets individually, as needed, with clients participating in his groups to support their group experience and overall treatment.
These individual sessions offer space to reflect on the group, work through a difficult interaction, or prepare to share something important. In both settings, Dan helps clients notice relationship patterns and use the therapeutic relationship to better understand themselves and create change.
Dan is also a certified SomEx practitioner and is trained in EMDR. When appropriate, he draws from these approaches to help clients understand how past experiences continue to affect them and develop new ways of responding in the present.
For those seeking ongoing individual therapy outside of group, Nashville Psych has several therapists who specialize in individual work. Our Client Care team can help identify the therapist who may be the best fit.
Education and professional background
Dan earned his PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Georgia. During his training, he provided therapy and psychological assessment to individuals, couples, and groups in school, community mental health, and university counseling settings.
He completed an APA-accredited predoctoral internship at Clemson University Counseling and Psychological Services and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Vanderbilt University Counseling Center in Nashville. Before beginning his doctoral training, he earned a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology from Barry University in his hometown of Miami, Florida.
Dan received multiple academic awards for his research on mothers-in-law and marital satisfaction. That work continues to inform his understanding of boundaries, communication, loyalty, and the ways family relationships can influence couples.
Before entering the field of psychology, Dan worked in real estate for ten years. After recognizing that he wanted his professional life to feel more personally meaningful, he returned to school to pursue counseling psychology and a career helping others. His own experience of growth and change contributes to the respect he brings to the risks clients take when examining their lives and relationships more honestly.
Dan continues to deepen his work in group psychotherapy through ongoing education, membership in the American Group Psychotherapy Association, and training with the Center for Group Studies.
Supervision and consultation
Dan provides supervision and consultation to master’s- and doctoral-level clinicians who want to strengthen their relational awareness, clinical presence, and ability to work with complexity.
Consultation may include attention to group dynamics, the therapeutic relationship, emotional process, challenging clinical situations, and the therapist’s use of self in both individual and group settings.
Licensure and telehealth
Dan is licensed as a psychologist in Tennessee and New York. Through PSYPACT, he is also able to provide telehealth services to eligible clients in participating states.
Current PSYPACT states include: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
As PSYPACT participation can change, our Client Care team can confirm whether Dan is able to work with someone in a particular state.
Exploring whether group may be right for you
It is common to feel interested in group therapy and uncertain about what it would actually be like. You do not need to know whether group is right for you before reaching out.
A free phone consultation gives you an opportunity to share what you are looking for, learn more about how Dan’s groups work, and ask any questions you may have. Our Client Care team can help you explore whether one of Dan’s groups or another service at Nashville Psych is the best fit.
Schedule a Free Phone Consultation
Call (615) 582-2882 or email clientcare@nashvillepsych.com. Our team will respond promptly and help you consider the next step.
Frequently asked questions
What does Dan specialize in?
Dan specializes in interpersonal process group therapy. He works with adults who want to better understand recurring emotional and relational patterns and develop more authentic, satisfying ways of connecting with others.
He also provides EMDR and SomEx-informed treatment, as well as supervision and consultation for clinicians.
Who can benefit from one of Dan’s groups?
Dan’s groups are a good fit for people who have insight into their struggles but continue to experience familiar patterns in relationships.
Group can also be valuable for people who want to feel more comfortable expressing themselves, navigating conflict, developing intimacy, receiving feedback, or understanding how they relate to others.
Does Dan provide ongoing individual therapy?
Dan’s practice is primarily group-based. He meets individually, as needed, with clients who are participating in his groups to support their group experience and overall treatment.
Clients seeking standalone individual therapy can be matched with another Nashville Psych therapist through our Client Care team.
What if I feel nervous about joining a therapy group?
Feeling nervous, uncertain, or hesitant about group therapy is very common. A consultation gives you the opportunity to learn how the group works, ask questions, and talk honestly about any concerns before deciding whether to participate.
Do I have to share everything in group?
No. Group members are encouraged to participate honestly, but they are not expected to disclose everything immediately. Trust and openness develop over time, and Dan works to help members engage at a pace that supports meaningful participation without forcing disclosure.
Does Dan work with couples?
Dan’s primary clinical focus is interpersonal process group therapy. His background and research include couples, boundaries, communication, and extended-family dynamics. Our Client Care team can clarify his current availability and help determine whether Dan or another Nashville Psych therapist would be the best fit for couples work.
Does Dan offer telehealth?
Dan is licensed in Tennessee and New York and can also provide eligible telehealth services through PSYPACT. Our Client Care team can confirm whether services are available in your state.
How do I get started?
Call (615) 582-2882, email clientcare@nashvillepsych.com, or request a free phone consultation online. Our Client Care team will learn more about what you are looking for and help you explore whether one of Dan’s groups is a good fit.