Dana Cray
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with eight years of experience supporting individuals navigating grief and loss, trauma, substance use, mental health concerns, and life transitions. My approach is person-centered, trauma-informed, and grounded in motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral techniques (CBT), empowering clients to recognize their strengths, explore meaningful change, and move toward healing at their own pace. As a Certified Creative Grief Practitioner, I also provide a supportive space for individuals to process loss through creative expression, reflection, and healthy coping strategies. My goal is to help each person feel understood, build resilience, and develop the tools needed to navigate life’s challenges with greater confidence and self-compassion.
First session
Your first session is a safe space to share your concerns, feel heard, and begin exploring your goals. We will discuss your current needs, complete mental health assessments to better understand your symptoms, and develop a personalized treatment plan with goals and strategies to support your progress. Together, we will identify where to begin and create a plan that supports your healing and personal growth at a pace that feels right for you.
Strengths
My approach stands out because I believe therapy should be individualized, collaborative, and rooted in the understanding that each person’s journey is unique. I create a supportive, nonjudgmental space where clients feel heard, valued, and empowered to explore their experiences at their own pace. By integrating person-centered, trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, and cognitive behavioral techniques, I help clients identify their strengths, build practical coping skills, and navigate change while maintaining autonomy in their healing process. My experience in grief and loss, substance use, and co-occurring mental health concerns allows me to recognize the many factors that influence well-being. I also incorporate creative approaches to grief and self-reflection, helping clients process difficult emotions in ways that feel meaningful to them. Above all, I believe healing is not about becoming someone else, but about gaining the insight, confidence, and tools to move forward in a way that aligns with who you are and who you want to become.
Ideal clients
I work with individuals who may feel overwhelmed by life’s challenges, struggle with grief or loss, experience anxiety or depression, navigate substance use concerns, or find themselves adjusting to unexpected life transitions. Whether you are feeling stuck, seeking clarity, working through past experiences, or hoping to develop healthier coping strategies, therapy can provide a space to pause, reflect, and reconnect with yourself. My approach meets you where you are, recognizing that you do not need to have everything figured out to begin. Together, we will explore your concerns, identify your strengths, and work toward goals that align with your needs and values. My hope is to help you build resilience, embrace growth, and feel more confident navigating life’s challenges with greater balance, self-awareness, and compassion.
Treatment methods
Person-centered (Rogerian)
My practice is grounded in a person-centered approach that recognizes each client as the expert in their own experiences. I strive to create a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment where clients feel heard, respected, and empowered to guide their therapeutic journey. I meet clients where they are, honoring their individual needs, values, and readiness for change while helping them identify strengths, explore challenges, and develop meaningful goals. I believe healing is a collaborative process, and my role is to provide support, encouragement, and tools that empower clients to make choices that align with their personal growth and overall well-being.