Hi, I’m Danielle.

At 40, I became an intern again — not in a metaphorical way, but literally.
I went back to school to better understand what it means to be human, and while seeing clients in a clinical setting — alongside continuing my career as a marketing leader — I realized how deeply we need better stories about mental wellbeing. Stories that make mental wellness feel more human, more accessible, and more connected to everyday life.

The 40-Year-Old Intern grew out of that season — a season of recalibration, identity shifts, and asking better questions about who I wanted to be next.

This little corner of the internet has become my passion project — the place where all the parts of me meet: the strategist, the therapist, the writer, the mom. Here, I get to rethink mental health, explore the shifts no one prepares us for in midlife, and remind other moms that starting again is never too late.

And because writing is one of the places where I feel most myself, I created The Sunday Intern, my weekly newsletter. It’s where I share fresh ideas, challenge old narratives, and make sense of what it means to evolve in midlife. Writing it keeps me honest. It keeps me curious. It keeps me growing — right alongside you.

Through stories, insights, and grounded reflections, my hope is to create something that feels supportive, useful, and a little bit brave.

Outside of work, I’m a lover of thrillers, spontaneous adventures, and Sunday football (Go Lions!). I spend most of my free time with my family — laughing, exploring, and finding small pockets of joy wherever we can. Mountains, lakes, and true-crime shows are my kind of therapy.

Welcome.
You’re not behind.
You’re in a new chapter — and you get to write it.

Background:
Marketing leader with 15+ years of experience • Licensed therapist (LLPC, Michigan) with an M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling • M.A. in Writing & Publishing.