Photograph of Dan
Office
Counseling-Service Building 202B
Tel
(802) 443-5141
Email
drafferty@middlebury.edu

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My name is Dan and I use he/him pronouns. I am originally from Minneapolis. I went to a large public high school before attending a small liberal arts college in Pennsylvania with a similar academic profile to Middlebury. I was an English literature major in college and an all-conference distance runner in track. I identify as a straight cis-gendered male and am married with two elementary school aged children.

 

I had a few different jobs before beginning my career in mental health. I worked on a guest ranch in Montana for four years, in investment products at State Street Bank in Boston, and as an office manager for a small architecture firm in New York City. The exploration of work pathways and finding a way to lead a values driven life is one of the most animating topics I enjoy discussing, alongside self-development, and arriving at satisfying relationships. I began to work in the counseling field after two years of leading wilderness trips in the high desert area of southern Idaho and then obtained my Masters in Psychology from Antioch University in Seattle. After finishing my degree, I was a therapist at a wilderness therapy program in Waitsfield for three years. Prior to joining Middlebury in July 2022, I was a private practice therapist in Chicago for several years. While in Chicago, I obtained an additional Masters degree in commercial real estate finance at DePaul University.

 

My interests beyond counseling include current events, rock climbing, and English Premier League soccer. I also devote time and attention particularly to preparing for the challenges of a rapidly changing climate and the ensuing system-wide challenges and opportunities already underway. I serve on the Town of Middlebury’s Energy Committee and am committed to accelerating and implementing at the local level the greenhouse gas reductions needed to meet the goals laid out by scientists, governments, and environmental justice advocates.