I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW #61622) and obtained my Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. I have been working with children, teens, adults, families and couples in the Dallas area for 12+ years. I have worked in a variety of settings, with a diverse client base including working with individuals and families in crisis; parenting concerns; therapeutic offerings in the home and school; outpatient group work with all ages; and individual, family, and couples therapy. I feel privileged to have worked with a variety of cultures and belief systems including the LGBTQIA+ population, and a range of diverse spiritual beliefs.

 

My passion is in working with people who have a history of family conflict, as well as individuals who struggle with concerns related to depression, anxiety, trauma, emotional dysregulation, and/or oppositional behaviors. I enjoy collaborating with an entire Wraparound treatment team. I am also able to provide therapy to Spanish speaking and bilingual clients and families.

 

I have extensive experience and training in the areas of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Wraparound, and the Gottman Method. I blend a variety of other treatment modalities in which I have received training, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT), Motivational Interviewing, and Narrative Therapy. My approach is strengths-based and solution-focused. My undergraduate degree is in Fine Art, and my first career as an illustrator and graphic designer affords me to the flexibility at times to incorporate art in my therapeutic work with clients when appropriate.

 

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Work Supervisor, certified by the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners. I feel honored to be able to supervise other social workers who are in the process of obtaining their clinical licensure. Supervision allows me the ability to teach and also inspires me to continuously keep abreast of the most current evidence-based research in mental health.

 

On a personal note, I have been married for 37 years, and have five adult children (one who lives with special needs.) In my free time, I enjoy traveling, cooking, singing, and attending theater.

Originally from the Midwest, Dana received her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development and Family Relationships from Illinois State University. She moved to Texas in 2011 before earning a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. After working with a variety of populations over the past decade, including foster care, community mental health, the substance use community, school systems, and private practice, her passion lies in doing family systems work with children, adolescents, and their families.

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Her prior experience includes eight years implementing the innovative wraparound treatment approach, where she was a founding clinician in a state-sponsored wraparound program, the first of its kind in North Texas. She later transitioned into program development and implementation where her efforts led to securing significant funding to expand the wraparound program as a beneficiary of the Dallas Crystal Charity Ball.

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Dana provides individual and family therapy at LIFT and specializes in treating mood disorders, anxiety, behavioral issues, emotional dysregulation, and family conflict. Her experience extends to higher levels of care, supporting clients who have experienced trauma, self-injury, and suicidality. She pulls from various evidence-based treatment modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and operates from a strengths-based, family systems, and attachment-based perspective.

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Dana believes the most impactful therapeutic work, particularly for children and teens with significant mental or behavioral health needs, is treated through family systems work and the quality, collaborative care of a treatment team. When the entire family is involved in the process, there is lasting and sustainable change benefiting not only the client, but the entire family.

 

In her free time, Dana enjoys travel, spending time with her family, and staying active through weightlifting and sand volleyball. She is a musical theater aficionado and a passionate animal rescue advocate. She has one “foster fail” pandemic puppy, a scruffy, sassy dog named Sandy.

As a Dallas native, Craven grew up as the 2nd oldest of 10 siblings and quickly developed a natural affinity for music and helping others. After obtaining her degrees in Music Therapy and Psychology from Southern Methodist University, Craven moved to San Diego to begin her career at Music Worx Inc. From 2014 to 2018, she worked in Plano with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and discovered a passion for addressing the often overlooked mental health needs that her clients experienced.

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In 2018, Craven started North Star Therapy, a private practice specializing in music therapy for mental health. She and her team work extensively with YES Waiver services, and developed therapeutic approaches for supporting high acuity clients who are often in crisis due to anxiety, depression, or trauma. Through this work, Craven met Heidi Fixler-Verges and Dana Pohlman, who shared a similar passion for addressing the needs of clients and families who fall through the cracks of the mental health care system. In early 2022, the three of them started LIFT Therapies.

 

Craven sings, plays guitar, piano, and ukulele, and brings creative, collaborative thinking to treatment teams. Often described as engaging, disarming and sharp, you can count on her to ask effective questions or challenge an idea to promote meaningful conversation and progress. Outside of work, Craven loves to read, travel, and spend time with her friends and her dog Lola.