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
EducationBA in History and Gender Studies from Adelphi University
MSW from Silberman School of Social Work
Recent TrainingIntegrating 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