Meet Dana

Licensed Mental Health Counselor

As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional with over 20 years of experience, I am dedicated to helping individuals and families heal from trauma and rebuild their lives with hope and resilience. I understand that seeking counseling can feel overwhelming, so I strive to create a safe, compassionate space for you to explore your experiences at your own pace. My approach blends empathy with collaboration, ensuring your story is heard and honored.

Using evidence-based therapies like Theraplay™ (for attachment), TF-CBT, and TraumaPlay Therapy, I tailor treatment to meet your specific needs. Together, we will develop coping strategies, rebuild trust, and empower you to move forward confidently. Healing is possible, and I am here to support you in rediscovering your inner strength. I look forward to walking with you on this journey to a brighter, more resilient future.

Contact Dana

Dana Bowling at Renewing Mind Counseling

"People don't care what you know until
they know that you care."

- Theodore Roosevelt

My Approach

Tender Parenting

At the heart of my work is the TENDER Parenting approach, designed for children impacted by trauma. TENDER stands for:

Trauma-Informed:

Understanding how past experiences shape development and behavior.

Empathy:

Connecting with your child’s feelings through compassion.

Nurturing:

Providing consistent care and affection to foster safety and belonging.

Developmentally-Appropriate:

Tailoring strategies to your child’s developmental needs.

Emotional Support:

Helping express and regulate emotions in a healthy way.

Resilience-Building:

Equipping your child with the skills and confidence to overcome challenges and thrive.

This approach is about building deep, trusting relationships that transform both parent and child. Over the years, I’ve learned the power of walking this journey together, and I’m passionate about reminding parents they are not alone and are equipped to raise their children.

Just like children, parents need care and support. True change happens when parents are met with grace and guided by truth. God has called me to step into these difficult spaces, offering grace and truth in a loving community.

Parenting is hard, especially when you feel disconnected from God’s Word. I’ve found that returning to the Word realigns my heart and strengthens me to show up for my family with love and patience.

If you’re facing difficult times or feeling overwhelmed, I’m here to remind you that you don’t have to do this alone. There is hope, healing, and comfort, and it starts with meeting you where you are—with grace and truth.

Lets Walk This Journey Together

My Certifications

Certified Clinical Trauma Professional

Specialized training in understanding and treating trauma, focusing on evidence-based interventions to help individuals recover from traumatic experiences.
Foundational Level Theraplay Practitioner

Training in Theraplay™, an attachment-based play therapy that focuses on building strong parent-child relationships through structured, interactive play.
Neurosequential Model of Therapy (NMT) – Dr. Bruce Perry

A brain-based approach to trauma treatment that assesses how adverse experiences impact neurological development and guides therapeutic interventions.
TraumaPlay Therapy

Play therapy specifically designed to address trauma in children, integrating play-based techniques to help them process traumatic experiences in a safe environment.
Childhood Emotional Neglect

Focused training on recognizing and treating the impact of emotional neglect in childhood, emphasizing the importance of addressing unmet emotional needs.
Sandtray Basic Tools & Methods

An introduction to sandtray therapy, a therapeutic approach that uses symbolic play in sand to help clients express emotions and process trauma.
Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) – Sue Johnson

Training in EFIT, a therapeutic approach grounded in attachment theory, focusing on healing emotional wounds and fostering secure relationships.
Brain Health Certification Coaching Program (Dr. Daniel Amen)

Training in Dr. Amen’s brain health principles, which integrate neuroscience and lifestyle changes to optimize mental health and cognitive function.
Trauma Research Foundations Certification Program – Dr. Bessel van der Kolk

A comprehensive certification in trauma treatment based on cutting-edge research, focusing on body-centered approaches to healing trauma.
Play Therapy Summit Training

An immersive training event covering a variety of play therapy techniques aimed at helping children heal from emotional and behavioral issues.
Neuroscience Certificate Course

Training in the neuroscience of mental health, exploring how brain functions impact emotions, behavior, and therapeutic outcomes.
The Body Keeps the Score Conference Training – 2021

Based on Dr. Bessel van der Kolk’s work, this training focuses on the connection between trauma and the body, emphasizing body-based therapies for healing.

Why Work With Me?

Extensive Experience

Parents as Partners Coaching provides trauma-informed parenting support to help families navigate the unique challenges of raising children affected by trauma through our compassionate guidance and proven strategies.

Holistic Approach

I use a combination of therapeutic techniques, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused CBT, Theraplay, and Family Therapy, to address both the immediate needs and long-term goals of your family.

Compassionate Collab

I believe in building supportive, strength-based relationships with the families I work with. Together, we’ll create a personalized plan that honors your family’s unique dynamics and fosters healing

and connection.

Real Stories, Real Transformations

When we first came to Dana, we were struggling with behavioral issues with our daughter and were at a loss as to what could help. We had visited other counselors in the past but experienced little to no change in our relationship with our daughter. After our first session, Dana identified a clear issue and set before us a path of healing and connection for our family that resulted in huge changes in behavior and connection. As a family we are continuing in our path of healing that Dana placed us on and know that she is always there as a resource for us when needed.

- John Cordrey

It was an absolute pleasure to host you on your recent webinar. The information you shared was invaluable. Thank YOU, for taking the time to share your passion and insights to equip the Sexual Risk Avoidance Education field!

- Tracey Pike

Dana’s commitment to mental health extends beyond the office. Investing time, energy, and expertise in the wellbeing of her community, Dana serves as an advocate for trauma-informed care at a number of organizations that impact outcomes for children and families. Her expertise has proven an invaluable asset to vulnerable people throughout.

- Amy Clark-Linnemann

Over the past couple of years my daughter has been blessed to work with Dana Bowling to support her growth in the areas of emotional regulation, anxiety, body awareness, peer interactions, and so much more! She is well trained in implementing trauma-based strategies & is very creative in her approach & activities. She has helped my daughter build self-confidence and truly cares about her & my family. We have been so thankful for her flexibility & willingness to keep trying even when my daughter has been challenging during sessions. She is a gift to our family & community.

- Stephanie Wolff

The tools and wisdom Dana Bowling has shared with our family have been a total game changer. We have seen profound changes in both our parenting and in our foster children’s coping strategies. She helped us better understand trauma and continues to equip us with the tools we need to support the children in our home. We would highly recommend Dana and her training for anyone wanting to better understand how to parent children with trauma. We couldn’t have done our foster care journey without her!

- Dustin and Sarah Weber

Meet Dana