Miranda Dooley, LMFT

I don’t know if you were anything like me as a child, but I had this crazy notion that “grown-ups” had it made. What the heck was I thinking? Adulting is hard! Some people have said it’s like folding a fitted sheet. No one really knows how to do it.

Part of the reason adulting can be so hard is that it brings a time of growth and change. The very definition of change is to make or become different—life is about evolving, and the fact that you are seeking therapeutic services is a sign you are headed towards growth.

There is no handbook or formula for success. Back in the day, if you went to class, turned in your assignments, and made a few friends, you were golden. There was a sense that a direct path to success existed, to some extent.

Now, the once straight path you knew so well has more forks in the road than you know what to do with. There is no teacher or coach to hold you accountable for completing your tasks. There is no one making sure that you are showing up. The friendships you had with people that you saw almost daily have changed—it could be that distance pulls you apart, or that you both may follow entirely different walks of life.

It’s no wonder you can feel disconnected from yourself. Feel like you’re living a series of incomplete sentences. Unsure of who you are and where you want to be. All the uncertainty in a once safe and secure life can become overwhelming.

I like to think of therapy as a compass to help my clients get back on the path to success. I strive to help my clients discover all the ways they have been strong.

In working alongside clients, I aim to explore self-doubt and negative thought patterns that tend to play on repeat. My intention is to instill hope and empower clients to break free from whatever may be holding them back.

If you are coming in for feelings of loneliness, the last place I want you to feel that is in my office. In a world that can be so judgmental and isolating, I aim to create a safe place where clients can come to be supported, heard, and validated in their struggles and concerns.

The therapeutic relationship I have with my clients is something that I cherish and do not take for granted. It is a true privilege to accompany clients on their journey of self-discovery and self-understanding.

A little about me… I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate. I obtained my Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology, with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy, in 2012 from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Los Angeles, California.

I’ve had the privilege of calling many places home. I was born and raised in Southeastern Wisconsin. Upon completing my undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, I headed to warmer weather. I started in San Antonio, TX, and continued making my way west, first to Scottsdale, AZ, then to Southern California (Newport Beach, followed by Manhattan Beach, CA). When I left SA, I always said I’d be back in Texas when I was married and ready to start a family—2011 was that year… and well, the rest is history.

If you are interested in working with me, please call me at 512/201-4501, ext. 201.