Dr. Nancy Dawson

I'm a licensed mental health counselor with a doctorate in psychology and 20 years of experience working with adults and seniors, including people navigating ADHD, trauma, grief, mood disorders, and major life transitions. My approach is faith-informed: I integrate a Christian worldview into my clinical work for clients who want that, and I offer a secular, evidence-based framework for those who don't. Either way, I take the whole person seriously — not just the symptom. I completed brain health training through the Amen Clinic, which has meaningfully shaped how I think about ADHD and cognitive health in older adults. I'm also a published author: my 2019 book came out of doctoral research on fear, dementia, and the aging mind.

I don't use a one-size approach because the people I work with don't have one-size problems. Depending on what you're dealing with, I draw from EMDR for trauma processing, CBT and DBT for patterns of thought and behavior, ACT for building psychological flexibility, IFS for understanding different parts of yourself, and mindfulness-based approaches for grounding. What ties it together is a whole-person lens. Biological, psychological, social, and spiritual. W're not just treating the presenting problem but understanding the full context. I'm direct and warm in session, and I bring a sense of humor when it helps. Therapy should feel like a real conversation, not a performance.

The first session is a collaborative conversation, not an interrogation. I'll ask about your history, what's been hard, and what you're hoping for. You'll have space to ask questions too. I want to understand you as a full person, not as a list of symptoms. If you'd like to talk before committing, I offer a free 15-minute consultation so we can get a sense of fit first. All sessions are via secure telehealth — no commute, no waiting room, and you can connect from anywhere in New York.