Today we’d like to introduce you to Dayna Gurley.
Hi Dayna, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My path into this work began in a very real and personal way. I was a young, single mother of two when I was diagnosed with cancer. Facing a life-threatening illness while raising children on my own changed me profoundly. It gave me an intimate understanding of fear, uncertainty, and resilience, and it also revealed how much people need to feel truly seen and supported during the most challenging moments of their lives. That experience became the turning point that pushed me to finish my education and dedicate my career to helping others who are suffering.
I went on to work in medical social work, supporting individuals and families navigating serious illness and trauma, and later in emergency room settings, where I sat with people in crisis at some of the most vulnerable moments they would ever experience. Those environments taught me that trauma is not just something we think about, but it is something we carry in our bodies and nervous systems long after the event itself.
Today, my work centers on trauma-focused therapy and includes training in EMDR, neurofeedback, and psychedelic-assisted therapy. I’m drawn to approaches that go beyond talk alone and help people reconnect with themselves in ways that feel safe, grounded, and empowering. At the heart of my work is the belief that healing happens when people feel understood, supported, and respected as whole human beings.
Additionally, I teach at the University of Houston-Downtown, training students to enter the world of social work. I know the importance of mentorship from my own personal experience. I enjoy using my real-world experience in the classroom to approach difficult conversations and social situations holistically.
I continue to grow alongside the people I serve and am completing my Doctor of Social Work (DSW) this year. My journey from single motherhood and cancer survivorship to medical and emergency work continues to shape how I show up with compassion, curiosity, and a deep respect for each person’s story.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it has not been a smooth road. Much of my life before becoming a clinician was spent trying to make sense of loss, identity, and survival. I lost my mother at a young age, and that loss shaped how I understood illness, safety, and the world. When I was later diagnosed with cancer, I believed it meant I would die. Surviving when I did not expect to changed everything. It made me ask why I was still here and what I was meant to do with the time I am given.
During that period, I was also deeply aware of what it feels like to sit in the client’s chair. I worked with therapists who were thoughtful and attuned, and others who were not. That contrast mattered. It taught me how much impact a clinician can have, for better or worse, when someone is vulnerable and searching for meaning.
At the same time, I was raising children and advocating for a son with complex medical and neurological needs. Much of my energy went into appointments, decisions, and learning how to keep going when there was very little room for rest.
Over time, I found my way back to spirituality in a way that felt honest and personal. Today, I am grateful that I survived and that I can bring those experiences into my work. They allow me to meet people with depth, patience, and an understanding that healing is not about fixing someone, but about walking alongside them in a way that feels safe, human, and real.
We’ve been impressed with A Healing Path Counseling & Consulting, PLLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My practice was built with the intention of creating a place where high-quality, ethical, trauma-informed care is accessible and thoughtfully delivered. While I remain actively involved in clinical work, the practice has grown into a collaborative space that includes licensed clinicians, supervised clinicians, and interns who are carefully trained and supported. A core part of my role is mentorship. I am deeply invested in developing clinicians who practice with humility, skill, and respect for the people they serve.
We specialize in trauma-focused therapy and offer services such as EMDR, neurofeedback, and integrative approaches for individuals navigating complex trauma, anxiety, and nervous system dysregulation. What sets our work apart is not just what we offer, but how we train and support the clinicians providing the care. We emphasize pacing, consent, clinical judgment, and relational safety, ensuring that clients are met with consistency and integrity regardless of who they work with in the practice.
I am also proud of the nonprofit arm of our work, which was created to help reduce barriers to mental health care. Through the nonprofit, we are able to support individuals and families who may not otherwise have access to therapy by offering reduced-cost services, training opportunities, and community-based mental health initiatives. This allows our clinicians and interns to serve the community while receiving high-quality supervision and education.
Brand-wise, what I am most proud of is that the practice reflects my values. It is not built around volume or quick solutions, but around sustainability, ethical care, and long-term impact. our work is rooted in service, education, and community. Everything we offer is guided by the belief that people heal best when care is thoughtful, accessible, and grounded in genuine human connection.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is watching people learn how to live their lives with more understanding, steadiness, and self-trust while they are healing. I am deeply proud of the work we do to help people build real tools they can carry into their everyday lives. Healing, to me, is about learning how to navigate life with more clarity, compassion, and choice.
I also find a great deal of joy in the community we have built within our practice. This past month during our holiday gathering at my home, I paused and looked around the room and felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. I was surrounded by women who are intelligent, kind, and deeply skilled at what they do. The encouragement, collaboration, and mutual respect we share has created something truly special and continues to push me to be better in my own work.
Outside of the practice, my family brings me deep fulfillment. Being a mother and a grandmother grounds me in a way nothing else does. My daughter’s work as a police officer has deepened my respect for first responders and the weight they carry, both seen and unseen. That personal connection is one of the reasons I am currently engaged in research focused on supporting the mental health and well-being of the first responder community. It feels meaningful to contribute in a way that honors both my professional skills and the people closest to my heart.
Whether it is my family, my team, or the clients and communities we serve, I am happiest when I am surrounded by connection, purpose, and work that feels aligned with who I am and what I value.
Pricing:
- Commerical Insurance
- Self Pay
- Financing Available for Neurofeedback and Ketamine Assisted Therapy
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ahealingpathcounseling.com/
- Instagram: a_healing_path_counseling
