MS, LPC
Dallas, Texas Therapist Specializing in Specializing in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults, Play Therapy, Child Therapy, Activity Therapy, and Parent Support
I’m Lana Raley, a Licensed Professional Counselor, specializing in supporting children (particularly the tweens, 8-12 year olds), adolescents, and their parents in overcoming challenges and reaching their full potential. I also enjoy working with young adults (early 20’s) who are adjusting to life changes launching into adulthood.
My Services:
- Play Therapy: By providing a supportive and caring relationship through the process of play (a child’s first language!) children develop healthy coping strategies and improve self-awareness, self-esteem and self-confidence.
- Activity Therapy: Through the use of a variety of activities, tweens and teens develop tools to express themselves, acquire skills to face challenges, and gain an overall improvement in their well-being.
- Individual Therapy with Young Adults: Empowering young adults to navigate life’s challenges and build a bright future.
- Parent Support: Collaborating with parents on topics related to their child including anxiety, ADHD, emotional dysregulation, social skills, grief, and divorce/blended family.
- School Success: Navigating Section 504 and/or Special Education to address the individual needs of your child’s academic, social and emotional success.
Whether you’re seeking to:
- Help your children navigate the “storms of life”
- Develop healthy coping mechanisms
- Learn new strategies for behavior challenges
- Understand more about how ADHD, Anxiety, and Depression impacts children, and how to better manage it
- Support your child through a divorce or blended family
- Navigate Section 504 or Special Education supports for school success
My approach:
I work from a child-centered and collaborative framework, focusing on the child’s unique needs and working together with parents. I believe helping children navigate challenging situations at a young age prepares them to be healthy, successful adults. We all face adversity and finding the strength to persevere, learn, and grow from those challenges helps us develop into the best human we can be. It is my goal to provide a safe, empathetic and compassionate space for children and parents to process the feelings experienced during struggles and develop new strategies to stay on the path of a joy-filled life. I also use a strengths-based/solution-oriented approach. By identifying and building upon existing strengths, we can develop practical strategies for overcoming challenges so children can thrive.
Additional information:
Finding the “right” therapist for you and your situation can feel overwhelming. However, this is an important step toward supporting you, your child, and your family system in the therapeutic process. My hope is that you can learn more about me, as a human and as a therapist, to determine if we are the right fit.
- I attended Pepperdine University where I earned my Bachelors degree and never took for granted the beauty and blessing to go to school in Malibu, California!
- I began my career as a school teacher and was so drawn to my students’ personal stories that I knew I wanted to become a school counselor.
- I earned my Master of Science in School Counseling from TX A&M Commerce and completed my LPC in 2010.
- I have 30 years of experience in education – 21 of those years as a school counselor. I worked in several public school districts in Dallas but spent the majority as the counselor at Bradfield Elementary in the Highland Park School District.
- I am a dedicated advocate for children’s mental health and well-being, and am a member of the Texas Counseling Association and the Dallas Metro Association of Counseling.
- I’m happily married and have 2 amazing step-children who were 4 and 7 when we met, and are now young adults.
- I enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling, cooking and entertaining, and staying active with church and volunteer work.
- I currently serve on the Board of Directors for the Moody Family YMCA.
My rate is $165 for a 50-minute session; $245 for a 80-minute session. Texas Licensed Profesional Counselor ( # 63418).. Click here to request an appointment.
A quote that resonates with me:
I'm convinced that when we help our children find healthy ways of dealing with their feelings--ways that don't hurt them or anyone else--we're helping to make our world a safer, better place. -- Fred Rogers