Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Julie Gray.
Hi Dr. Julie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I like to say I’m a late bloomer — the first in my family to graduate from college, and someone who took the long road toward purpose. My childhood was far from easy. I grew up in a chaotic environment marked by addiction and instability. My father, an abusive alcoholic, passed away when I was twelve, leaving behind eight children. My mother returned home after his death, and our house quickly became the neighborhood “party house.” There were no rules, no structure, and no sense of safety.
By seventeen, I was ready to rewrite my story. My sister and I got our first apartment together, and I made the decision to finish high school. I worked full-time during the day at an insurance company and attended night school, raising my GPA from 1.5 to nearly straight A’s. I stayed with that company for thirteen years, working my way up to supervisor before being laid off — an experience that reminded me how limited my options were without a degree.
I went back to school, earning my BA in Applied Behavioral Science while volunteering at my church, where I helped distribute food to those in need. That experience awakened something in me — a calling to serve and to help others heal. I left the corporate world to pursue my Master of Social Work full-time and began working in community mental health across Chicago and Los Angeles.
In 2017, I earned my PsyD with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy and decided to open my private practice. Though the transition wasn’t easy, it felt right. My work now focuses on helping people heal from trauma, grief, anxiety, and life transitions — often drawing on my own lived experience to meet them where they are.
Owning a business is demanding, but it’s also deeply rewarding. Every day I get to witness growth, resilience, and transformation — proof that even the hardest beginnings can lead to something beautiful.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This is my second time being interviewed by this magazine — the first was in Los Angeles in 2019, and now here in Texas — and so much has changed in between. Starting a business for the first time has definitely come with its challenges. I’ve always had a consistent flow of clients, but I didn’t have formal training in running a business. Then came the pandemic, which shifted everything — from how clients were cared for to how I managed daily operations. On top of that, relocating to a new state meant rebuilding systems, networks, and routines all over again. It hasn’t been a smooth road, but each transition has taught me something valuable. I’ve learned how to adapt, streamline, and stay grounded through uncertainty, and that growth has shaped both me and my business for the better.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Dr. Julie Gray – Lighted Pathways Psychology Inc.?
I’m a licensed psychotherapist in private practice, serving clients in both California and Texas. I hold a PsyD with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy, and I am licensed as an LCSW in California and as an LCSW-S (Licensed Clinical Social Worker – Supervisor) in Texas, which allows me to both provide therapy and mentor developing clinicians as they begin their own careers in the field.
My practice focuses on helping individuals heal from trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, and major life transitions. My approach is integrative — blending evidence-based psychotherapy with holistic and somatic healing modalities that honor the connection between mind, body, and spirit. I’m Level II certified in EMDR, which I use extensively to help clients process trauma and reestablish a sense of emotional safety and self-trust.
In addition to EMDR, I’m certified in meditation, sound bowl healing, and Reiki, and I’m a Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) provider. This work has allowed me to guide clients through profound healing experiences in a clinically safe, compassionate environment. I also recently completed a nine-month ancestral healing course and am in the process of certification, which has deepened my understanding of how generational patterns shape our emotional and relational lives. In February 2026, I will begin formal training in Internal Family Systems (IFS) to further expand the therapeutic modalities I offer.
What sets my practice apart is the balance between science and spirit — a grounded, trauma-informed approach that integrates clinical expertise with intuitive care. I believe healing is not just about symptom relief but about helping clients reconnect with their authentic selves. I’m proud that my practice has grown organically through trust, authenticity, and word-of-mouth. Clients often describe their work with me as transformative, safe, and deeply restorative — and that, to me, is the heart of what my brand represents.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
One of my favorite memories from childhood is digging for worms in the damp soil after it rained, gathering them in a tin for my parents to use when we went fishing. I remember the smell of earth on my hands, the way the ground seemed to breathe beneath me. At the time, it was just play — but looking back, I see how connected it made me feel to the rhythm of life itself. I was touching something ancient and alive, part of a cycle that has always sustained us.
Those same years, I waited eagerly for the bookmobile to arrive in our neighborhood — that magical library on wheels that opened up entire worlds. When I wasn’t outside exploring the earth, I was traveling through stories. Together, those two experiences — the soil beneath me and the stories beyond me — taught me about curiosity, connection, and transformation. I think that’s still what guides me today: the belief that healing, like life, is cyclical. Sometimes we dig deep, sometimes we drift and dream, but we’re always moving toward wholeness.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lightedpathways.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.juliegray/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lightedpathways.org/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-julie-gray-42786118/
- Twitter: https://x.com/drjuliegray
