Danae Kauffman, LMFT

I was born in Abilene, TX with elementary school being spent in Mauldin, SC outside of Greenville. I spent the majority of my life in the north Charlotte area since moving from SC. I attended Appalachian State University for my undergraduate degree in secondary math education. Upon graduation, I taught and coached tennis with a local school system for five years in a high school math classroom. Teaching is where I thought I wanted to make a difference until I saw how much a child’s home life and their family relationships impact their school performance.

At age 13 and age 17, I lost my mom and my dad to battles with cancer. Through these losses, I knew that my story had meaning and purpose. I knew I wanted to help others in their journeys and initially found this meaning in teaching. Through teaching, I saw a different need and a need to heal my own trauma. It was through graduate school and working with clients, I have been part of others’ pain and used my story for good. My grief journey has been heavy, but it also connects to those I counsel.

Currently, I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy Associate (LMFTA) in North Carolina. After working with individuals, families, and couples from varying backgrounds and stages of life, I decided to specialize with couples. I believe clients can achieve wholeness in their lives by cultivating peace in their relationships as well as with themselves. Counseling can be a pivotal piece in learning about oneself, healing from trauma, and finding resources for abundant living. I believe that utilizing research based approaches to help couples communicate in conflict as well as repair past hurt is crucial. I have completed Levels 1 and 2 training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy.

I love spending time with my husband, Zach, by watching shows like Castle, Bones, or Brooklyn Nine-Nine together and walking outdoors. We get way too much enjoyment out of teaching our cats, Burt and Nia, tricks like high-five and fetch. I also enjoy playing tennis, reading mystery novels, and being a part of a church community. 

About Danae

• Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) in North Carolina
• Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from Abilene Christian University
• Member of American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
• Completed SYMBIS Facilitator Training
• Completed Prepare/Enrich Facilitator Training
• Completed Gottman Method Couples Therapy Level 1 and Level 2
• Completed Treating Affairs and Trauma Training by The Gottman Institute
• Completed the Gottman Institute Couples & Addiction Training