Daniel Chung

Specialties and Certifications

📌 Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
📌 Blended Family Counseling
📌 Co-Parenting Support
📌 Stepfamily Dynamics
📌 Neurodiversity in Families
📌 Christian Couples & Family Counseling
📌 Parent-Child Relationships
📌 Conflict Resolution & Communication
📌 Affair Recovery & Trust Building
📌 Grief & Family Transitions
📌 Anger Management & Emotional Regulation
 

About Daniel

Blending a family is both a journey and a challenge, and Daniel Chung is passionate about helping couples and families navigate the complexities of stepfamily life. With over twenty years of experience supporting individuals, couples, and families in all stages of life, he brings a warm, empathetic approach that fosters healing, connection, and growth.
 

Daniel understands the unique stressors that blended families face—co-parenting struggles, differing parenting styles, loyalty conflicts, and shifting family roles. His goal is to help families find harmony amidst the transitions by offering practical strategies, emotional support, and a space where each family member feels valued and heard.
 

His holistic approach to healing considers emotional, relational, and spiritual wellness, helping clients build healthier relationships, increase resilience, and create a thriving blended family life.
 

Daniel’s background includes:

✔️ A career spanning the hospitality and nonprofit sectors, providing a deep understanding of human connection and cultural sensitivity.
✔️ Over 25 years of work in nonprofit organizations, including urban youth programs, churches, and schools.
✔️ Advanced education in psychology, theology, and spirituality at both the Master’s and Doctoral levels.
✔️ A role as an adjunct graduate professor, teaching the integration of psychology and spirituality.
✔️ Personal experience in a long-term, thriving marriage, bringing firsthand understanding of the challenges and rewards of blended family life.
 

Daniel’s trauma-informed and client-centered approach allows him to create a safe space where families can work toward understanding, trust, and positive transformation. He is dedicated to helping couples and families build strong foundations that will stand the test of time.
 

Blended Family & Couples Counseling

Blended families require intentional care and support to create unity while honoring each person’s individuality. Daniel’s approach to family and couples counseling centers around building strong bonds, managing stepfamily challenges, and creating a home environment where every member feels secure.

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1. Creating a Healthy "Us" in a Blended Family

The blending of families is not just about coexisting—it’s about creating a new family identity while maintaining respect for past relationships. Daniel helps couples and families:
 

🔹 Define their shared vision for their blended family, clarifying expectations and family roles.
🔹 Balance past and present relationships, acknowledging the challenges of step-parenting and co-parenting.
🔹 Foster connection and trust, strengthening family bonds while respecting individual needs.
 

Through guided conversations, families learn how to build unity while celebrating differences, fostering a household where each member feels seen and valued.

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2. Understanding Conflict Cycles in Blended Families

Blended families often experience complex emotional triggers, whether from past hurts, step-sibling rivalry, or co-parenting struggles. Daniel helps families recognize and break unhelpful relational cycles:
 

🔹 Identifying sources of tension, from discipline disagreements to feelings of exclusion.
🔹 Transforming reactive cycles into moments of understanding, using tools for respectful communication.
🔹 Building a ‘Peace Cycle’ that prioritizes emotional safety, family unity, and compassionate communication.
 

By addressing misunderstandings before they escalate, Daniel helps families navigate tough conversations with confidence and clarity.

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3. Supporting Co-Parenting & Step-Parenting Roles

Co-parenting with an ex-spouse while maintaining a healthy new family dynamic is one of the biggest challenges in a blended family. Daniel supports parents by:
 

🔹 Helping step-parents find their role—neither replacing nor competing with a biological parent.
🔹 Teaching cooperative co-parenting strategies that minimize conflict and prioritize the child’s well-being.
🔹 Strengthening the couple relationship to prevent parenting stress from undermining their bond.
 

Through Daniel’s guidance, parents and step-parents gain the tools to create a stable and nurturing family environment.
 

Neurodiversity & Family Support

Daniel specializes in working with neurodiverse families—whether it’s an autistic child adjusting to a blended family, a neurodiverse couple navigating different communication styles, or a family learning to support ADHD challenges. His approach includes:
 

🔹 Neurodiversity-informed assessments for adults using tools like the MIDAS-2, SRS-2 (for autism), CAARS, and Brown EF/A (for ADHD).
🔹 Helping parents understand and support their neurodiverse children, offering practical strategies to reduce stress and build connection.
🔹 Guiding blended families through neurodiverse dynamics, ensuring every family member feels understood.
 

Daniel emphasizes that neurodiversity is not a limitation but a unique perspective, and with the right tools, families can thrive together.
 

Modalities & Therapeutic Approach

✔️ Trauma-Informed Therapy – Helping families heal past wounds while building resilience.
✔️ Restoration Therapy – Identifying and replacing negative family patterns with healthier interactions.
✔️ Emotion-Focused Therapy – Deepening emotional connections in couples and families.
✔️ Brief Solution-Focused Therapy – Creating actionable steps to resolve challenges quickly.
✔️ Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – Helping individuals and families change unhelpful thought patterns.
✔️ Experiential & Systems Therapy – Addressing family dynamics holistically.
 

Clients Daniel Works With

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Blended families seeking greater unity and understanding.
💑 Couples navigating step-parenting, co-parenting, or relationship challenges.
🧒 Children & teens adjusting to a blended family or facing neurodiverse challenges.
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Individuals working through family transitions, grief, or identity shifts.
 

License & Supervision

📜 Registered AMFT #149769
👨‍⚕️ Supervised by Dr. Harry Motro, LMFT #53452