Dara Curley

Qualifications & Experience

I earned a Bachelor’s degree in psychology with an emphasis on substance abuse assessment from Argosy University, and I hold a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Grand Canyon University.

I began working in the mental health field about ten years ago. I have a broad range of experience, including: working with individuals with developmental disabilities; youth struggling with suicidal and homicidal ideation, abandonment, and identity issues; trauma-informed care; serious mental illness in teens and adults; and individual and family counseling.

My Call to Christian Counseling

Growing up, I had numerous interactions with broken people seeking healing and comfort, and the Lord stirred a desire in me to ease their pain. I’ve seen a wide range of issues, including anxiety, depression, the effects of divorce, drug addiction, and the trauma of sexual abuse. Many people are afraid to speak because of a fear of being judged. That's where I come in. My aptitude for empathy and mercy made the decision easy for the next step in my career. I want to give people a voice to be able to express their pain, anger, frustration, and anxiety. My heart is for the hurting, and I realized that I want to be with people in their most vulnerable moments before they reach breakthrough.

More About Me/On a Personal Note

When I’m not at work, I cherish time with my husband, daughter, and cat. When the weather gets cooler, I enjoy independent activities like baking, writing or journaling, or sitting down to a good book (though I’ll admit my TBR list is huge). I also love taking walks when the weather is cooler. I attend church on Saturday nights and volunteer with the unhoused population on Saturday mornings.

Areas of Expertise/Specialties

• Abandonment and Neglect
• ADHD
• Anger Management
• Anxiety
• Bipolar Disorder
• Chemical Dependency
• Coaching
• Counseling for Children
• Counseling for Teens
• Couples Counseling
• Codependency
• Depression
• Eating Disorders
• Family Counseling
• Grief and Loss
• Individual Counseling
• Infidelity and Affairs
• Marriage Counseling
• OCD
• Online Counseling
• Personal Development
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Premarital Counseling
• Professional Development
• Relationship Issues
• Sexual Abuse
• Spiritual Development
• Trauma
• Women’s Issues

Women’s Issues

Being a woman is hard. Often we are bombarded with negative imaging about our bodies, emotions, and even how we choose to parent. Issues like postpartum depression and anxiety are overlooked or even shamed, and menopause brings with it a wave of emotions and can have a deep emotional impact.

We neglect ourselves. When our nurturing instincts go awry, we give pieces that we can’t afford to give; we are driven to make sure everybody else is doing well. Meanwhile, no one notices we are falling apart, including us.

The demands of motherhood, career, household, and finances can feel relentless and overshadow much-needed time with your spouse. You need a safe space to vent, breathe, process, and strategize for your own well-being because you can’t pour water from an empty bucket, no matter how much you want to. I would be honored to support you no matter what stage of life you’re in.

Infidelity and Affairs

Marriage is a beautiful covenant, and when infidelity and affairs occur, it can shatter the foundation of trust and respect. When seeking healing from the wound, I would allow space for each spouse to process their emotions, help establish communication skills, and work on forgiveness. I would emphasize that forgiveness is not absolving the unfaithful partner of their actions, but it is a personal choice to not allow their betrayal to continuously impact them. If your marriage has been impacted by infidelity, hope and help are available through Christian counseling.

Premarital Counseling

As your premarital counselor, I will help you start off with a strong foundation. Together we will look into shared values, learn effective communication skills, and unpack any concerns or traumas. We will also discuss expectations of gender roles, parenting styles, and how upbring has affected the relationship currently. From there I will work with you to navigate the differences as you prepare for marriage. No spouse is perfect, and there will be points of contention. It is important for partners to know what to expect during these periods and how each one copes with stress. Together we will learn conflict resolution, effective communication, and the importance of coping skills and boundaries.

Family Counseling

I work with families to foster effective communication, establish trust, and adjust to life changes. A family is a system, and each member has different needs and desires that can sometimes be overlooked. In my role as your counselor, I’ll give each family member an opportunity to be heard. Providing this space will help the family to function with greater harmony.

Online Counseling

I understand that life is busy. Between work, kids, relationships, and hobbies, it may be hard to find time to address your mental health. I offer telehealth sessions during my regular work hours to better accommodate the needs of my clients. In-person sessions are available, too.

Sessions: I offer 53-minute sessions. Sessions can be held more than once per week, weekly, or every other week. Scheduling options are discussed in greater detail during your Risk-Free Initial Session.

Availability (by office location):

• Tacoma – Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
• Online (WA Only) – Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays

Fees: I offer a Risk-Free Initial Session for individuals, and couples looking to pursue counseling with me. Please note that there is a fee for the Risk-Free Initial Session as it is a clinical hour and reimbursable to most insurance companies, but if you choose not to reschedule and continue therapy after the initial session, the entire fee for the session will be waived. For ongoing treatment, the full fee per session is required at the time of service.

Insurance: As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate (LMHCA), some insurance companies will reimburse for a portion of my services (as an Out-of-Network Provider). Please consult with your insurance provider as to whether they specifically cover adolescents, individuals, and couples.

Receipts/Statements: In the event you require a printed or digital receipt, I will provide receipts for personal use, insurance reimbursement, Flex Spending Accounts (FSA), and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).

Payment options: Cash, Check, or Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, & American Express). A fee of up to 4% per transaction may be added for credit card payments.