Executive Coaching & Therapy
High Stakes Roles Come With A Cost
The silent weight of constant pressure can be overwhelming, even when things only feel “slightly off.” I’ve been there, and I work with people in demanding roles to reduce that internal strain, protect their mental health, and build a life that doesn’t rely on constant overextension.
People I Support
As a board-certified clinical psychologist (ABPP)—a rigorous post-licensure credential in clinical psychology— and executive coach, I work with people who carry significant personal or professional responsibility and live with the quiet weight of being the one others rely on.
My background includes:
- Corporate settings – 13 years as a senior leader at Deloitte Consulting, supporting C-suite and partner populations and developing large-scale mental health and resilience programs.
- Military and veterans’ care – Former U.S. Army Brigade Psychologist (Afghanistan); founder of Frontline Assessments, a veteran-led practice providing independent VA mental health evaluations.
- Academia – Former college instructor in psychology, with a focus on helping students understand and apply evidence-based principles to real-world stress, performance, and resilience.
I’m also the author of Rethinking Employee Resilience (APA, 2025) and a frequent national media voice on employee well-being and organizational culture.
What We Work On
Common themes include:
- Burnout and chronic stress
- High-functioning anxiety and depression
- Trauma and moral injury (combat- and work-related)
- Irritability, anger, and “not feeling like yourself”
- Overwork, perfectionism, and blurred boundaries
- Leadership strain: hard teams, tough calls, and constant visibility
We’ll define clear goals and work toward concrete changes, not just insight.
How We Work
Early on, we determine whether therapy, executive coaching, or a thoughtful blend of both is the right fit for your goals, context, and level of distress. That decision shapes everything that follows.
Then, we will use a blend of the following:
- Evidence-based – CBT, ACT, trauma-focused approaches, and performance psychology.
- Direct and practical – Clear feedback, tools, and structure.
- Context-aware – I understand how corporate and military systems actually operate.
The aim isn’t to make you “tough enough” to tolerate anything; it’s to help you function and feel better while you make wise decisions about where and how you’re spending yourself.
Coaching vs. Therapy
I offer both (or a blend of):
- Coaching – For performance, leadership, and growth (e.g., navigating high-pressure roles, resilience, emotional endurance). Coaching is not mental health treatment and does not involve diagnosis.
- Therapy – For diagnosable conditions (e.g., anxiety, depression, PTSD) and significant distress/impairment. Provided under my psychology license when you are located in a state where I’m authorized to practice.
Logistics, PSYPACT, and Fees
- Format: Secure telehealth only.
- Where I can practice: I’m PSYPACT-authorized, allowing me to provide therapy to clients in 40+ states (see here to verify eligible states: https://psypact.gov/page/psypactmap).
- Session length: 50 minutes.
- Coaching fee: Contact for details
- Therapy fee: Contact for details
Get Started
Please send me an email and we can walk through what might work best for you:
- Email: dpelton@frontlineassessments.com
Email and voicemail are not secure or emergency services. If you are in crisis or need immediate help, call 988 (in the U.S.) or go to your nearest emergency room.
Dan shifts the conversation on burnout in the best possible way. It’s not about pushing people to be tougher—it’s about creating environments where resilience can actually take root. Practical, wise, and deeply human; loved it.
Hector Hughes, cofounder and CEO of Unplugged
