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ICF Psychological Services

Licensed Psychologist

A woman smiling in a calm, welcoming therapy setting
In-Person Therapy in AshevilleOnline across North Carolina & PSYPACT states

Therapy in Asheville and online

Therapy isn’t just for moments of crisis. It’s for anyone feeling stuck, curious, overwhelmed, or simply ready to understand themselves more deeply. It’s for those navigating transitions, tending to old wounds, or learning to show up in relationships with more intention.

A place to begin

For respite, insight, or change.

Whether you're seeking relief, reflection, or renewal, therapy offers a space to be seen, heard, and supported. You don't have to wait until things fall apart. You're allowed to want more—more clarity, more connection, more peace.

Looking for care that makes room for Filipino or Tagalog-speaking community experiences? Explore this page and contact the practice to confirm language options.

Choose the format that fits

Three ways to work together

Grounded in science. Tailored to you.

Grounded in Science. Tailored to You.

When Life Feels Stuck

Feeling stuck can show up in many ways. It might feel like waking up with a sense of dread, going through the motions but feeling disconnected from purpose or joy. Like knowing something needs to change, but not knowing what or how.

You might feel trapped in looping thoughts, overwhelmed by decisions, or weighed down by anxiety, guilt, or self-doubt. Maybe you’re tired of being strong all the time. Maybe you’re questioning your relationships, your career, or even your sense of self.

Sometimes, feeling stuck means you’ve outgrown old patterns but haven’t yet found new ones.

Therapy as a Place to Pause

Therapy offers a space to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with what matters most. Together, we’ll explore what’s keeping you stuck and identify practical steps toward a life that feels more aligned with your values.

The goal isn’t simply to feel better. It’s to help you move forward with greater clarity, flexibility, and intention.

Evidence-Based Care

Your treatment is tailored to your unique needs and goals, drawing from approaches supported by decades of research.

We may use:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to identify and change unhelpful thought and behavior patterns.
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to build psychological flexibility and reconnect with your values.
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills to strengthen emotional regulation and distress tolerance.
  • Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) to challenge rigid beliefs and cultivate resilience.

Specialized Treatment for OCD

For individuals living with OCD, we specialize in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), the gold-standard treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder.

ERP helps reduce compulsions, build tolerance for uncertainty, and loosen OCD’s grip on daily life so you can reclaim your time, energy, and peace of mind.

You Don’t Have to Stay Stuck

Whether you’re navigating anxiety, OCD, life transitions, relationship challenges, or a growing sense that something needs to change, therapy can provide the support and direction to help you move forward.

Take the first step toward a life guided by self-compassion, freedom, and intention.

Approaches I'm trained in

Different questions call for different lenses.

BTTI Trained

ERP

Evidence-based therapy for OCD

Exposure and Response Prevention helps you gradually face feared situations while practicing a different response instead of relying on compulsions or avoidance.

Decode in the practice glossary.

Explore the approach

SPACE

Evidence-based support for parents and caregivers

SPACE helps families and partners reduce patterns that may keep anxiety in charge while staying supportive, connected, and compassionate.

Decode in the practice glossary.

Explore the approach

Gottman Method

Research-based therapy for couples

The Gottman Method offers practical, research-based ways to understand conflict, strengthen friendship, and practice repair and connection.

Decode in the practice glossary.

Explore the approach
Trained

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Understand patterns and find practical ways forward.

In CBT, you and your therapist look at how thoughts, feelings, and actions affect one another. Together, you can work through problems and practice responses that support the goals that matter to you.

Source: Beck Institute
Trained

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Make room for difficult moments and focus on what matters to you.

ACT can help you make space for difficult thoughts and feelings without letting them make every decision. You identify what matters to you and practice taking steps in that direction.

Source: Baylor College of Medicine
Trained

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Build skills for emotions, stress, and relationships.

DBT pairs acceptance with change. Its skills can help you stay present, get through intense moments, understand and regulate emotions, and communicate more effectively.

Source: DBT.tools

If you are looking for goal-driven psychoeducation and relationship skill-building rather than therapy, explore Couples Intensives.

Meet Dr. Athena Dacanay

Dr. Athena Dacanay headshot

Dr. Athena Dacanay

Licensed Psychologist

10+ years in practice

I aim to foster emotional and intellectual safety—where you feel seen, heard, and gently challenged. I’m collaborative, quietly Socratic, and adaptive, shifting my approach to meet your evolving needs. I work with adults, couples, and families navigating OCD and anxiety, relationship concerns, life transitions, and questions that may call for psychological evaluation. Together, we consider the whole person—not only symptoms, but also the relationships, experiences, strengths, and settings that shape daily life.

I hold a PhD in Educational Psychology from Ball State University and a Master of Family Life and Child Development from the University of the Philippines, Diliman. I am licensed as a psychologist in North Carolina and Illinois, with active PSYPACT APIT authorization. My clinical training includes ERP through the IOCDF Behavior Therapy Training Institute (BTTI), S.P.A.C.E. with Dr. Eli Lebowitz, and Gottman Method Level 3 training.

I offer in-person care in Asheville and telehealth across North Carolina and participating PSYPACT states.

  • PhD in Educational Psychology

    Ball State University

  • Master of Family Life and Child Development

    University of the Philippines, Diliman

  • ERP training through BTTI

  • S.P.A.C.E. trained by Dr. Eli Lebowitz

  • Gottman Method Level 3 Trained

  • Licensed Psychologist in North Carolina and Illinois

  • Active PSYPACT APIT authorization

  • Member: IOCDF, OCD North Carolina, WNCPA, and NCPA

  • OCD
  • Anxiety
  • Relationship Issues
  • Psychological Evaluations

Adults — often educated or working in professional settings, many with families — frequently seeking therapy during transitions such as new work, raising children, loss, or adjusting to new roles, or seeking to learn better ways to cope with difficult or even traumatic experiences. Couples and parents are welcome. You do not need a diagnosis or crisis to begin.

My therapeutic approach is grounded primarily in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), with specialized training in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). I also incorporate Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) Treatment, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to meet each client's unique needs.

Clinician

Meet the Team

ICF Psychological Services provides specialized care with Dr. Athena Dacanay.

Dr. Athena Dacanay

Athena Dacanay, PhD

Licensed Psychologist

Licensed psychologist providing specialized OCD and anxiety care, Gottman couples therapy, psychological evaluations, and workshops.

View profile

In Person or Online

ICF Psychological Services office detail from Dr. Athena Dacanay’s supplied photo set
Dr. Athena Dacanay office interior with comfortable seating and soft lighting
Wide view of the Dr. Athena Dacanay therapy office with seating and natural light

Office Location

ICF Psychological Services 1095 Hendersonville Road, Suite A-4 Asheville, NC 28803

Our Asheville office is a thoughtfully designed space for focused conversation, reflection, and meaningful work. If you prefer to meet remotely, telehealth appointments are available through HIPAA-compliant video platforms, including Zoom and SimplePractice, allowing you to connect from wherever works best for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

You don't have to choose alone.

A complimentary consultation is a place to share what is bringing you here and ask about fit, format, and next steps.

Complimentary Consultation