Dana Polley

LCSW, PMH-C

Perinatal Mental Health Specialist | EMDR/Trauma Therapist | Space Holder for Big Feelings 💜 | (She/Her)

Meet Dana: Support for Motherhood, Identity, and Trauma

You’re a deep-feeling woman balancing a lot – career, relationships, family expectations, societal pressures, and motherhood.

You sense that becoming a mother will change everything, and the questions that keep you up at night feel overwhelming: “Can I really do this?” “What if the worst thing actually happens?”

With a grounded, compassionate presence, I can offer a space to unpack all your worries and process the ‘“What ifs”. Picture a supportive chat with a close friend, except I’m armed with a toolkit of therapeutic approaches to help you tackle whatever comes your way.

SERVING WOMEN IN COLORADO
Online & In-Person

OFFICE HOURS
MONDAY - FRIDAY
10:00am - 5:00pm

RATES & INSURANCE
Therapy: $175 per 50-min session

Insurance: Aetna and Out-of-Network

Dana Specializes In

Navigating Motherhood

Deep Feelings

Pregnancy Journeys

Body Image

Dana’s Story

Support for Motherhood, Young Adulthood, and Identity Exploration

I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, maternal mental health specialist, and trauma-informed provider dedicated to supporting women and moms as they contemplate parenthood, process pregnancy loss, or navigate the perinatal period of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. 

My work as a therapist is informed by years of clinical training alongside personal experience. I've experienced pregnancy, miscarriage, and an unexpected c-section. I'm also navigating motherhood, hormone and relationship changes, and learning to love my post-baby body–right alongside you. 

Bottom line: Your fears are welcome here. I too have felt anxious, overwhelmed, stuck, and unsure. I learned to create my own peace and to love all the parts of me–even amidst great transition. Let me help you do the same.

Dana’s Qualifications

  • Licensed Clinical Social Work

    • Master of Social Work from the University of Denver

    • Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from Miami University

    • Perinatal Mental Health Certified

    • Certified Sexual Assault Victim Advocate

    • Foundations of Integral Sound Healing (2024)

    • Approved Clinical Supervisor (2023)

    • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Integration with Somatic Therapy and Parts Work (2023)

    • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Basic Training (2022 & 2023)

    • Internal Family Systems (IFS) for Trauma, Anxiety, Depression, Addiction & More (2022)

    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Core Skills & Competencies (2022)

    • Advanced Perinatal Mental Health Psychotherapy (2022)

    • Perinatal Mood Disorders & Components of Care (2022)

    • Emotion Focused Family Therapy (2018)

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Identity Changes On Your Path to Motherhood

It’s normal to experience a variety of emotions, like joy, excitement, fear, and uncertainty, as you journey towards motherhood. 

However, becoming a mom brings profound shifts in identity that our society does not talk about. You may feel caught off guard if you suddenly aren’t sure who you are anymore – or at a loss for who you want to become as a mother. 

I can help you understand these identity changes. Together, we’ll explore who you are at your core – your values, aspirations, and internal experiences beyond being a mom, daughter, partner, or employee. 

You’ll experience a reinforced sense of self, both ready to celebrate the changes ahead and rooted when things don’t go as you anticipated.

How Dana Can Support You

  • Your Identity as a New Mother

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    Embrace and explore your evolving identity as you step into motherhood.

  • Contemplating Parenthood

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    Share your honest feelings about becoming a parent—or choosing not to.

  • Pregnancy & Birthing Anxieties

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    Find care and validation as you unpack your pregnancy worries, big and small.

  • Body Image: Before & After Baby

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    Navigate complex feelings about your changing body with empathy and self-compassion.

EMDR & Trauma Therapy with Dana

On top of more pressing concerns – work, relationships, parenting, and more – you may carry the weight of past painful experiences. You may not even identify your struggles as "trauma”, but struggle with perfectionism, people-pleasing, or childhood memories that left you feeling unseen or unworthy.

I’m trained in EMDR Therapy, a trauma-informed approach that helps heal these old wounds and the unconscious beliefs formed in response. EMDR Therapy can address specific experiences–like a car accident, pregnancy loss, or birth trauma–or more ongoing concerns, such as the feeling you had to ‘be perfect’ as a child or the message that you couldn’t show emotion. All these experiences have far-reaching impacts on how you show up for yourself and approach motherhood.

If you are curious about EMDR Therapy, please feel free to reach out and schedule a consultation, or learn more about EMDR Therapy here.

 Get Started with Dana Today

Whether you’re exploring the decision to become a mom, feeling anxious about pregnancy, or overwhelmed with what comes after birth, Dana offers expert guidance and compassionate space-holding to support you at every stage of parenthood. 

Take the first step toward clarity, confidence, and peace of mind. Schedule a session with Dana today.