dana marie cole

Dana Marie Cole

Resident in Counseling, Certified Brainspotting Practitioner, and Marketing & Outreach Assistant

  • License: Resident in Counseling - VA

  • Pronouns: She/Her

  • Ages: Teens, Adults and Couples

  • Location: Mechanicsville

  • Appointments: In-office and Telehealth

Dana (she/her) is a Resident in Counseling working with teens, adults, and couples—offering support both in-person and via secure teletherapy. She specializes in anxiety, depression, grief, life transitions, and both “big-T” and “little-t” trauma.

Dana brings a rich mix of background experience in education, life coaching, and trauma-informed care. She is certified in Brainspotting, and utilizes Internal Family Systems (IFS), DBT, and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) within a person-centered, holistic framework.

As a survivor of childhood emotional neglect and narcissistic abuse, Dana deeply understands how trauma can shape the way we see ourselves and others. Whether you’re feeling stretched thin by career and family demands, carrying the weight of grief, stuck in toxic patterns, or longing for a deeper spiritual connection, Dana offers a grounded, nonjudgmental space where healing becomes possible.

Rooted in a mind-body-spirit philosophy, Dana helps clients reconnect with their intuition, their resilience, and their power to create change—at their own pace.

When she’s not in session, you’ll probably find Dana singing her heart out, digging in the garden, or walking in nature—her favorite self-care rituals.

Modalities and Specialties:

Modalities:

Behavioral & Mindfulness-Based Therapies

  • Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Trauma Therapies

Couples & Relationship Therapies

  • Gottman Method (Level 1 trained)

  • Imago Relationship Therapy (Introductory Training)

Specialties:

 Get to know Dana Cole

  • I graduated from the College of William & Mary with my Master’s of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, with a specialization in Military and Veteran counseling.

  • “Trauma is when we are not seen or known.”  -Bessel van der Kolk

  • A client once told me I have “nonjudgmental mom energy”—and I took that as the highest compliment. I’ll sit with you, listen deeply, and learn your story. When you’re ready to go deeper, I’ll walk with you through the hard stuff. I’m not a ‘tough love’ therapist—I’m a trauma-informed one. I see your adaptations not as flaws, but as the brilliant ways your brain has kept you safe. Healing begins when we replace shame with understanding, and self-blame with compassion.

  • I believe healing is possible for everyone. It’s not about fixing what’s broken—it’s about remembering who you were before the world told you who to be. I help clients come home to themselves.