Who We Are
It shouldn’t be uncommon to have something in common with your therapist. But for people who experience oppression and marginalization, finding a therapist who is both qualified and shares some of your lived experiences can be difficult. Having to translate your culture and identity in order to be understood by a therapist is lousy. We’re here to remedy that. Every therapist at Common Counseling has lived experiences that are crucial to providing culturally attuned therapy for people who have been historically underserved, misdiagnosed, and mistreated in mental healthcare.
Simply put, Common Counseling is therapy by and for people like you.
Dawn Copeland | LCSWA Therapist
(she/her)
Over 25 years of experience working in clinical
mental health
My goal as your therapist is to normalize the common experiences we share as humans (pain, yearning, the desire to know our true selves and connect with others) and help you get what you need to have a good life.
Surviving adolescence and becoming an adult is not easy. And growing pains don’t stop when you turn eighteen! They show up again in your 20’s and 30’s. Sometimes it can feel like everyone else has it all figured out or like you’re never going to catch up. If you keep asking yourself things like, “Who am I?”, “Where am I going?”, “What am I doing wrong??”… I’m here for it. I know what it’s like to want to do the right thing with your life but not know what that is. If you have too many people telling you what they think you should do or if you’re trying to do it all on your own, I can help.
If you’re trying to figure all of that out while also dealing with being a woman, especially a woman of color, I got you. Sometimes we just need a place to work through all the burdens that have piled up until we can’t just get over it anymore. I know what it’s like to carry hurts that don’t get noticed or nurtured by our families, our loved ones, and society. If you’re tired of pushing through the pain, let’s talk. I can help you design your life in a way that gets you as much peace (and joy!) as possible.
- Women, Teens, and Emerging Adults
- Life Transitions
- Racial Identity
- Relationship Issues, Family Conflict
- Anxiety
- Grief
Dawn Offers:
- In person, telehealth
- Individuals, Families
- EMDR
- Parts Work (Internal Family Systems)
Dawn’s rate for a standard session is $125. All other session types are based on the standard rate. Dawn is taking new clients.
Some things we may have in common…
I’m a cisgender heterosexual Afro-Caribbean female who is married with an adult child. I love keeping chickens (I’m a chicken tender!) and all kinds of animals. Currently, I share my home with two dogs, a cat, a husband, and an extensive nursery of interesting plants. I like trashy romance novels and love fiber arts. There probably aren’t any I haven’t tried and the more challenging, the better. Most of my free time is spent in craft-related things: crafty friends, traveling with crafty friends, traveling with crafty friends to do crafty things. I’m mostly able-bodied and highly accident prone. I’m queer, trans and poly/kink affirming. I’m also a practicing Christian (Episcopalian) but I am fluent in diverse religions. If there’s anything else you’d like to know about me to help you decide if I’m a good fit for you, let’s have a complimentary conversation. I want to meet you!
Heather Lenox | LCSWA Therapist
(she/her)
Over a decade of experience in therapeutic
private practice
My goal as your therapist is to help you recover from what happened when you were little so you can live a more peaceful and connected life.
Childhood trauma sucks. When we grow up in a dysfunctional household, we end up doubting our self-worth, questioning our lovability, and waiting for the other shoe to drop. Then, as adults, we struggle to feel secure in the relationships that matter the most. We develop problematic attachment styles and get accused of being needy or controlling or emotionally unavailable. We struggle to trust the good times and to trust our partners. Do you crave love and connection but rarely feel relaxed enough to enjoy it? Do you worry that maybe you just don’t know how to be a good friend or partner? If you want to be less reactive with your loved ones and handle family of origin better, I’m your person. And I truly can’t wait to meet you. I can help you recover from being raised by emotionally immature or dysfunctional caregivers and help you reparent yourself so you can have a better life ahead. The most important thing to me is meeting you where you’re at and being a safe person for you. From there, we can handle all the tough stuff. Bring it.
- Childhood Dysfunction, Trauma, and Abuse
- Emotional Reactivity
- Relationship Problems
- Complex PTSD
- LGBTQQIA+
- Parents and Partners of Trans and Gender Diverse (TGD) people
- In person, telehealth, and nature based therapy (walk and talk sessions)
- Individuals, Partnerships/Couples
- Parts Work (Internal Family Systems, Reparenting)
- EMDR
Heather’s rate for a standard session is $140. All other session types are based on the standard rate. Heather is taking new clients and may have a short waitlist.
I’m a queer cis white person who is kink and poly-inclined and in a long-term monogamous marriage with a TGD person (whew! that’s a mouthful!). Basically, there isn’t a consensual attraction or relationship configuration I’ve been confused or unsettled by. I dance, garden, drink tea in fancy cups, cook damn fine food, and love being outdoors. I’m kind of nerdy. I live with mild chronic pain and I’m struggling a bit with being middle-aged. I’m spiritual with an agnostic leaning and I affirm all belief systems that are affirming of people like me. You deserve to know as much about your therapist as it takes to feel safe in their care. So, if there’s something else you want to know about me, just ask. Let’s have a complimentary conversation and see if we’re a fit!
