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A woman with blonde hair sitting cross-legged on a white carpet with her hands resting on her knee. She is smiling and wearing a white top and brown pants. Behind her are two white cushions on a couch, against a dark teal wall.

You Don’t Have to
Do This Alone

Stop Managing the Crisis.
Start Your Emergence.

Evidence-based support and strategy for women stepping into their power, and parents reclaiming their peace of mind.

I'M A WOMAN IN A TRANSITION

I'M A PARENT OF A NEURODIVERGENT CHILD

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You’ve Been Told "It’s Nothing" or "It’s Just Behavior"

You know it’s more.

Whether you are a woman waking up with 3 AM anxiety, or a parent dreading the judgment in the grocery store—the feeling is the same.

You feel isolated. You feel unheard by the "experts." You feel like you are failing, even though you are trying harder than anyone else.

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Therapy for Women

You’re doing everything you’re "supposed" to do, yet you're still waking up wondering, Is this it? You’ve spent years managing everyone else's needs, and you are entirely done with the narrative that midlife means fading into the background.

You don't want to just settle; you want the strategy to stop shrinking and emerge into this next chapter with clarity, power, and unapologetic confidence.

LEARN MORE

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Therapy for Parents

You are exhausted by "behavior charts" that don't work. You’ve been told to force compliance, but you know that treating your child like a project is breaking your connection.

You sink under the feeling that you have to apologize for your child's existence.

LEARN MORE

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The Truth? You aren't crazy.
You aren't failing.

You aren't broken. You just need an Advocate in your corner.

I’m Dawn. I work at the intersection of the Nervous System and Real Life.

I am a dual-specialist: a Clinical Therapist and a Coach. But more importantly:

"I didn't have support, so I became it."

I’ve been the woman facing midlife anxiety that no one could explain. I’ve been the mother researching diagnoses alone at 2 AM. I realized I had to advocate for my own body—and my child's—when the "experts" wouldn't.

That realization sparked my own Emergence. In my late 40s, I decided it wasn't too late to step into the most authentic version of myself. I completely changed paths, went back to school to earn my Master's degree in a new field, and dedicated myself to this work.

I am the Bridge Between the Science and Your Reality.

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H

I believe healing begins with being fully seen, deeply understood, and radically accepted.

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E

Growth isn’t about fixing yourself. It’s about finally becoming who you were always meant to be.

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R

You didn’t come here to just cope. You came here to remember the life that is truly yours to live.

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Therapist, Parent Coach,
Fellow Human

I’m Dawn — a therapist, a parent coach, and also just a fellow human who knows what it feels like to be in the thick of it.

Yes, I’ve trained as a Licensed Professional Counselor and PCI Certified Parent Coach®… but what really shapes my work is the fact that I’ve been there, too.

I know what it’s like to feel overwhelmed by life, to question whether things will ever feel easier, and to sit in a therapy session wondering if change is possible.

The good news? It is. Healing takes work, but it’s worth it — and I’ve seen firsthand how powerful it can be. That’s why I’m so committed to creating a space where you feel understood, supported, and empowered to move forward.

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MEET DAWN

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Real Stories of Emergence & Connection.

“Dawn helped to identify greater symptoms of hormone deficiencies and issues related to menopause, she has provided me with tools to help me manage through the ups and downs of perimenopause. Working with Dawn has provided invaluable insight into female health and solutions for my personal journey. I look forward to working with her regularly as there is always something I learn and can take into my life on a daily basis to manage my own mental health.”
—J.H., Therapy & Coaching for Women Client
"Working with Dawn was one of the best things I could have done for myself and my family. As a single mom to three young kids (one of who has multiple diagnoses included ADHD, DMDD, and ASD), when I first met with Dawn I was beaten down. From day one, she opened my eyes to all the positives I was creating for my children and myself. It was as if a veil was lifted and I could finally see clearly, having never even realized my perception was skewed. Essentially, she helped me see the sun again after what must have been years of steady rain.”
—A.L., Neurodiversity-Affirming Parent Coaching
“Dawn is the first person who has really taken the time to understand me holistically. Our time together is about how my mind, body, and emotions operate and we focus on tools that actually work for me in real world applications. Dawn has ignited new abilities in me that have boosted my confidence in tough situations and allowed me to love myself for who I am. Anyone who is looking for personal, lasting, and positive impact and change in their wellbeing and mental health, should consider seeing Dawn!”
—M., Therapy & Coaching for Women Client
“Dawn is very knowledgeable and has a lot of experience in the field and it really shows in her work. We truly enjoyed working with her. We would highly recommend Dawn Van Berkel for parent coaching. Thank you Dawn!”
—I.P. Parent of 2 children with ASD., Neurodiversity-Affirming Parent Coaching
(Read the full testimonial here)
“Dawn has an intuitive and gentle process of providing new insight into my patterns, especially when it comes to interacting with those closest to me. Thanks to her- I feel more confident to handle challenges as they come my way. I highly recommend going to Dawn!”
—S., Therapy & Coaching for Women Client
“Dawn helped me develop a growth mindset and practical parenting strategies that I use every day. Coaching with Dawn redirected me from a path of despair and defeat to one of understanding and hope. Thank you, Dawn, for helping me grow as a person and a parent, and for encouraging me to dream big for my family.”
—Grace V, Neurodiversity-Affirming Parent Coaching
(Read the full testimonial here)
“When I first started seeing Dawn, I was in a financially and emotionally abusive relationship. My confidence level was low. I had no self-esteem left. I felt like I had hit rock bottom. Dawn listened to my story. I felt I could express my feelings without judgement. She let me guide the conversation but injected questions that lead to my own self discovery. She was compassionate and understanding, but also tough enough to get me to challenge my thoughts about myself. She helped me gain my confidence back. Dawn helped me find the courage to make changes for a better life.”
—Kim K., Therapy & Coaching for Women Client
“My wife and I are special needs parents of two children under the age of ten. Prior to meeting Dawn, we struggled with how to get through each day with everything we have on our plate. Dawn helped us regain focus on what was truly important to us and it has made a huge difference! She takes the time to listen to your challenges, ideas and concerns, and offers suggestions that aren’t prescriptive in nature...and that’s a good thing! The most effective changes we’ve made in our lives didn’t come directly from Dawn, but as a result of working with her. She helped us discover positive change through collaborative, self-reflective conversation. My wife and I highly recommend Dawn to anyone looking for help with figuring out the answer to the question “Where do I go from here?”
—George + Kelli, Neurodiversity-Affirming Parent Coaching
“Dawn, I can’t thank you enough for all the time you spent and commitment and guidance you provided in helping me in my parenting journey!!! I have learned so much, I learned that this is an ongoing journey that doesn’t come with a quick fix but rather requires ongoing effort and investment. I learned that I am always making progress by having a vested interest and making efforts towards change. You enabled me to see things from a different perspective and think outside of the box. Thank you again for taking so much time out of your schedule and commitments to make me a priority!”
—Kristie, Neurodiversity-Affirming Parent Coaching
“My coaching experience with Dawn was absolutely outstanding. Over the course of a few months she really helped me identify personal strengths that I had previously only applied to my professional life and adapt them to improve my parenting skills with my two year old. I feel like in the last few months I've gone from a frazzled parent with little patience who yells too much, to a much calmer and more confident mother. While not always perfect, our day to day life has definitely become smoother and I think our whole family feels the positive difference. It's made an enormous difference and I highly recommend Dawn!
—Eleanor, Neurodiversity-Affirming Parent Coaching
(Read the full testimonial here)

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Ready to stop surviving and start emerging?

Whether you are navigating a new diagnosis or a new life chapter, you don't have to do it without a map. Let's look at the patterns, find the root, and build a strategy to get you back to yourself.

SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULT