Today we’d like to introduce you to Jane Gray.
Hi Jane, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I spent my early years disconnected from my body. Life experiences proved over and over that it wasn’t safe to feel what I felt. Whether that was thru invalidation, emotional neglect, or lack of boundaries, I learned not to trust the feelings in my body. As a result, I developed various ways to escape what I was feeling…disordered eating, eating disorders, anger, isolation, toxic relationships and patterns of self sabotage.
After a difficult divorce and the suicide of my ex husband, it was time to heal the wounded parts of me so I could be as healthy as I could to raise my four kids as a single parent. I began reconnecting to my body and went to therapy to heal the parts of me holding hidden pain. It wasn’t an easy or quick process; I made a lot of mistakes along the way but never gave up. I went to therapy, I started becoming aware of my patterns and made a commitment to myself to love myself….something I had never had the courage to do.
I went back to school to get my master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. It was an intensive three year process that raked through things I had buried deep inside. Through the process of getting licensed, I learned a lot about myself, about others and about the world. I learned how to give myself grace and compassion. I learned to trust myself and to understand myself on a deeper level. I learned to let go of thoughts and feelings that no longer served me and learned to love my imperfections and love even more, the imperfections of others.
I began a private practice that focuses on trauma resolution. My approach emphasizes resolving what the body has stored and how those stored wounds are creating symptoms in the present. I am a Certified EMDR therapist and offer Ketamine therapy as well to most efficiently rewire the brain through self reflection, compassion and curiosity.
In 2023, I lost my daughter to fentanyl poisoning at age 19. I’m committed to creating awareness about mental health and addiction. I’ve done various podcasts, YouTube channels, and was invited to the White House to be a part of the signing of the Halt Fentanyl Act by President Trump.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Change and life is never a smooth road but the struggles have proven to be worth the wear. The greatest struggles were the suicide of my children’s father, being a single parent, relying on food pantry’s to feed my family, and most recently, the death of my daughter. to fentanyl. I’ve made new friends, and lost old ones due to changes in life needs and abilities.
The challenge of any difficult life experience is feeling alone….feeling like nobody understands the weight of what you carry. It can create feelings of betrayal, abandonment, loneliness, and isolation. Having to sit with these feelings and validate them, without adopting them as truth, was definitely a challenge…still can be, but I’ve learned now how better to challenge the thoughts and not get pulled down into a vortex of self doubt.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Jane Gray Counseling?
I specialize in trauma resolution. In the course of therapy, we want to resolve the symptoms creating issues in the present e.g. relationship turmoil, anger, depression, anxiety, self harm addiction etc. As mentioned before, I am certified in EMDR and provide Ketamine assisted therapy. I approach therapy through a neurobiological lens i.e. what has the nervous system endured and how is the nervous system protecting you. In short, what is the nervous system doing in order to survive. We explore negative beliefs, feelings and connect to the body to help digest what the body is holding. We approach these survival patterns with curiosity and without judgment. It’s hard work.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
The world can be mean and the world can be beautiful at the same time. It’s important to have hope and to practice gratitude. It’s important to consider that we’re all vastly different and yet incredibly similar. The human experience is raw, complicated and profoundly rich. My dream has always been to help others by creating a connection that brings hope and healing through compassion.
Pricing:
- 175/session
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.janegraycounseling.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Janegraylpca
