Daniel Best, M.A.

Daniel Best is a predoctoral extern at The Child and Family Institute and a third-year Psy.D. student in the School-Clinical Child Psychology program at Yeshiva University’s Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology. He earned his B.A. in Psychology from McGill University and an M.A. in Mental Health Counseling from Ferkauf as well.

Before beginning his doctoral training, Daniel provided Functional Family Therapy to high-risk families in the child welfare system. This experience deepened his commitment to utilizing trauma-informed care, a multicultural perspective, and behavioral strategies to help families make necessary changes to graduate from the welfare system. 

At his current school-based fieldwork placement, Daniel provides individual counseling, by integrating growth mindset principles and higher-order thinking skills, and group counseling to foster social-emotional growth and resilience. He also assesses students for baseline academic data and school admission purposes.

Daniel’s clinical interests center on the theoretical foundations of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), with a particular focus on integrating trauma-informed perspectives. He is also interested in evidenced based parenting strategies, cultivating executive functioning skills, and administering neuropsychological assessment.  

Daniel aims to apply these passions by working with children and adolescents facing ADHD, anxiety, learning disabilities, or enduring trauma. He is also dedicated to supporting parents in improving family dynamics, understanding their child’s cognitive profile, and fostering family resilience.

Across settings, Daniel brings an empathic, developmentally informed, and collaborative approach to his work. He strives to create safe, supportive environments where evidence-based practices, engaging activities, and practical skill-building help children, adolescents, and families navigate challenges and build on their strengths.