Hi, I'm Dana Gonzalez, LCSW (she/her)!
Welcome to Haven before the Harvest! I’m passionate about walking alongside clients as they navigate life’s challenges, helping them feel empowered, reassured, and hopeful. I specialize in supporting adolescents, adults, and their families in processing difficult emotions, healing from trauma, and building on their strengths. I earned both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Social Work from Baylor University, and for the past five years, I’ve had the privilege of helping young people develop the tools they need to manage overwhelming experiences and thrive.
Wholehearted Purpose
I strive to embrace my life and work with courage and humility, honoring the experiences, values, and intrinsic worth of myself and others. I believe that making a positive difference, even for just one person, contributes to the greater good. My work is driven by listening, wondering, sharing, challenging, and laughing. I aim to live fully and help others do the same, being present through both life’s joys and challenges. My commitment is to approach each moment with curiosity, authenticity, and vulnerability.
To me, authenticity and vulnerability mean allowing room for creative expression, play, adventure, and exploration. I aim to navigate life’s lessons and opportunities for growth with courage and openness. In this way, I hope to strengthen my connection with myself, others, and the universe, and to support others in deepening these connections as well. This vision guides my purpose in both my personal and professional life.
My journey as a therapist began with hands-on experiences supporting children in foster care and youth experiencing homelessness, which taught me a lot about resilience, healing, and the importance of safe, supportive relationships. I earned my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Social Work from Baylor University, and those experiences helped shape the way I practice today. I see myself as a lifelong learner and enjoy exploring new trainings, certifications, and therapeutic approaches that help me meet each client where they are. I aim to bring curiosity, flexibility, and genuine care to every session while grounding my work in evidence-based practices.
I have received specialized training in the following therapeutic modalities:
- Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Certified
- Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
- Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS)
- Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI)
- Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
I bring over five years of diverse mental health experience to my practice, with a deep commitment to compassionate care and continual growth in my clinical skills. My work has included supporting youth and adults transitioning into housing programs, providing school-based support to K–12 students navigating academic, emotional, and behavioral challenges, and helping school-aged children and young adults process grief, explore identity, and adjust to major life changes. Over time, I have also provided care in intensive outpatient settings, which has strengthened my understanding of wraparound services and the value of a systemic approach, particularly for individuals facing complex trauma, family challenges, and significant mental health concerns. I have experience supporting clients with a wide range of issues, including anxiety, depression, complex trauma, family dynamics, suicidal ideation, attachment concerns, and behavioral challenges.
My therapeutic approach is relational, flexible, and client-centered. I strive to meet each client where they are, whether at home, in their community, or in my office, offering care that is accessible, affirming, and tailored to each individual’s strengths, needs, and goals. I believe healing happens in the context of connection, and I aim to create a safe, collaborative space where clients feel seen, supported, and empowered to grow. I am committed to honoring and affirming people of all identities, backgrounds, and experiences, including LGBTQ+ individuals and families, and respecting the diverse cultural, spiritual, and personal contexts clients bring into therapy. My hope is that every client feels safe to bring their full self into therapy and knows they are deeply valued.
A Few Things That Make Me, Me
Song on repeat: II Most Wanted by Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus
Go-to Austin spots: Artipasta, Saps, and Micklethwait’s BBQ
Energized by: Sunrise hikes with my doggo, yoga, and connecting with friends
