Hailey Dawson

they/them
LCSW and founder

Blue Dawson

CEO of Barking

About me:

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over six years of experience providing individual and couples therapy in New York City. I am deeply passionate about therapy as a healing space for all people and strive to offer care that is inclusive, affirming, and rooted in an anti-oppressive lens. My clinical work includes extensive experience supporting LGBTQ+ individuals, couples, and families. As a queer person myself, I understand how meaningful it can be to work with a therapist who is knowledgeable, empathetic, and non-judgmental.

My approach is client-centered, relational, and trauma-informed. I believe that healing happens in the context of safe and attuned relationships, and I prioritize creating a therapeutic environment where you feel seen and supported. Together, we will explore how early experiences, relationships, and systemic influences shape present-day patterns, while honoring your resilience and capacity for growth. I integrate liberation-based and anti-racist frameworks into my work, recognizing the impact of power, identity, and social context on mental health and well-being.

In therapy, I draw from a range of modalities including relational therapy, mindfulness-based practices, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills. This may include building tools for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, alongside deeper exploration of trauma, attachment, and relational dynamics. Our work will move at a pace that feels safe and collaborative, with an emphasis on fostering autonomy, self-understanding, and meaningful change.

Outside of my clinical work, I enjoy cooking, gardening with my husband, and spending time with my dog, Blue. I am an avid reader and I try to read one book per week per year.

I identify as non-binary/trans/queer, white, and spiritual. I use they/them/their pronouns exclusively.

I am a good fit for:

LGBTQ+ people and their allies

People who are tired of how hard everything feels

People who want to deepen their relationships but aren’t sure how

Lovers who want to love more and fight less

People looking to love themselves more

Caregivers who need a space to be cared for

Intellectualizers who want to feel more and think less

People who aren’t sure if therapy will help


Education

BA in History and Gender Studies from Adelphi University

MSW from Silberman School of Social Work


Recent Training

Integrating Sex Therapy into Clinical Practice

Janina Fisher’s Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP)

Training in Identification and Reporting of Child Abuse and Maltreatment

Becoming an Antiracist and Anti-Oppressive Clinician: Integrating Antiracism, Cultural Humility, and Anti-Oppression into Clinical Care

Notes That Heal, Not Harm: Ethical Session Documentation with Dr. Raquel Martin

“Caring for myself is not self-indulgent. Caring for myself is an act of survival.”

Audre Lorde