Darian Gier, LCSW
Bio
About Darian
Originally from the suburb of Wheaton, Illinois, Darian is a native of the Chicago area. He received his bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from The University of Chicago. After spending two and half years teaching English and exploring in Asia, Darian received his clinical mental health training at Loyola University Chicago with a Master in Social Work. Since graduating with his master’s, Darian has gone on to work in many different settings, including public schools, private therapy practice, community mental health centers, and the New York University Counseling and Wellness Center. He is fully licensed in the states of New York and Illinois, and has thousands of hours of clinical experience from his 11 years in the field. In 2020, Darian moved to Brooklyn for a change of scenery, but returned to the Chicago area in 2026 where he is now based.
Outside of work, Darian enjoys many hobbies, including exercise, travel, being a film lover, following sports, being an avid reader, following politics and current events, seeing live music, playing the trombone and electric bass, cooking and cuisine, and exploring the great outdoors. Darian is also a daily practitioner of mindfulness meditation.
Darian’s fascination with people began long before he became a clinical therapist, as evidenced by his degree in anthropology which continues to inform his practice. He has long been fascinated by the social sciences and the “big picture” factors of humanity, including psychology (obviously), history, anthropology, sociology, economics, political science, linguistics, religious studies, and gender studies. In practice, he considers how all these factors affect and create the individual, encouraging clients to see how their historical, social, political, familial, and cultural factors impact their existence and sense of self.
Philosophy
Method
Darian uses an eclectic approach to talk therapy garnered from many years in the field and clinical supervision. He utilizes standard forms of cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and behaviorism in addition to newer models of mindfulness, evolutionary psychology, and relational therapy. At the heart of all therapy, Darian believes lies a strong and vulnerable relationship between therapist and client. Darian will at times challenge his clients and hold them accountable, as well as frequently utilize humor in the therapy setting, as Darian strongly believes therapy can and should be fun!
Men's Issues
Darian is fascinated by how masculinity is evolving in the 21st Century. As the status of women has risen in society during the past two generations or more (and Darian fully supports the empowerment of women), men by comparison appear to be confused and struggling. As of the early 21st Century, women are more likely to finish high school, college, and graduate school, and meanwhile men are more likely to die what experts call “deaths of despair,” including death by suicide, drug overdose, and preventable accidents. As a clinician, Darian aims to help modern men find a healthy, peaceful, and vulnerable sense of male identity that is not purely determined by wealth, status, and competition.
Credentials
Education
Darian holds a bachelor's degree in anthropology from The University of Chicago and a Master of Social Work from Loyola University Chicago.
Experience
Darian has worked as a school social worker in several public schools, in private practice, and in community mental health centers in the New York City area. He was mostly recently employed at New York University Counseling and Wellness Center.
Affiliations
A member of National Association of Social Worker (NASW)
Insurance Accepted
Darian's therapy practice accepts a variety of insurance plans to ensure accessibility to mental health services. Please contact us for information on coverage details.
