LCMHC, 15 years of experience
As a licensed professional counselor for over a decade, I consider it an honor to create a sacred space with a client in the therapeutic relationship. As clients are able to unravel developmental traumas, process relational difficulties, and dispel long-held cognitive beliefs, true healing emerges within. Over the years, I have found that I am most helpful in the treatment of trauma, building healthy attachments between people, and using a number of well-researched methods for more complex issues related to emotional development. In my free time, I love to visit the shores of Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina with my husband of 31 years and our mini-Australian Shepherd, Brodie . I also enjoy our three grown children make their mark on this world!
From our first connection, we'll explore those issues that are causing you difficulty and pain and we will together decide possible paths for exploration. In our subsequent times together, we will work on a collaboratively crafted treatment plan to help resolve negative belief and relational patterns.
I believe my clients find me to be a safe place, which has always been my goal as a counselor. It is within a safe place that one can their authentic self, learn and grow, and master new ways of being.
My passion is for health and healing for those that I am fortunate enough to work with in my practice. Whether working with individuals or couples, my goal is to create an environment that allows for the deepest expression of self with gentle guidance for help in exploring those areas that are no longer helpful. Practicing new behaviors and thoughts about self requires a gentle environment until one is able to establish deeper trust and connection with self and others.
1 rating with written reviews
March 13, 2025
My partner and I only just began working with Dana and she has already had a profound impact on our relationship. He insight has given us hope and opened up our minds. After our first session, we felt immediate relief and felt seen and understood. The way she facilitates the session helped us connect not only to our inner voice but also to each other. She nudged us to go deeper emotionally and we tapped into things that were buried. Dana also gave us a game plan and helped build expectations, so we know what to expect for the future. I look forward to continuing my couples and individual therapy journey with her.
The relationship between counselor and client is the most important part in achieving personal goals and outside the room changes in therapy. Being seen, understood, and accepted is foundational for all changes, so an attachment-based model approach is the most important aspect of my therapeutic approach.
With nearly ten years of experiencing using EMDR, I have witnessed first hand clients "go inside" and do the most vulnerable and courageous work using this well-researched approach. It is a valuable tool for single incident trauma and when used in combination with a well-established therapeutic relationship, it can be helpful in reworking complex PTSD.
Couples Therapy requires an "eye for the side of the marriage". Many times couples are faced with their attempts to get their unmet needs fulfilled inside this once hope-filled relationship. Untangling patterns of hurts, childhood wounds, and personality differences (once found to be the attraction between partners) can be better understood and navigated through improved communication and skills offered through the Gottman method.