High Five Behavioral Health

Dana is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 11 years of experience in the mental health field, including four years providing clinical psychotherapy. She earned her Master of Social Work from The University of Alabama—Roll Tide!—and brings warmth, empathy, authenticity, and genuine connection to her work with clients. For Dana, becoming a psychotherapist and eventually creating a practice of her own was more than a professional goal—it was a dream that began in high school. In 2026, that dream became High Five Behavioral Health, a practice built around a simple belief: healing deserves to be recognized, progress deserves to be celebrated, and even the smallest breakthrough can be meaningful. The name High Five grew naturally from Dana’s work as a school-based therapist, where she began giving her students a high five when they experienced an “aha” moment, reached a goal, recognized their own growth, or simply had something worth celebrating. What began as a small gesture became a meaningful part of her therapeutic approach—and one she continues today. Dana’s passion for trauma recovery is both professional and deeply personal. She lost her father to cancer when he was 37-years-old and she was just a 6-year-old girl. She couldn't event talk about him for 26 years without crying because the depression was so deep. Later, she experienced more trauma in her life, including 16 years in an abusive marriage, she understands that healing is rarely a straight path—and that finding the courage to rebuild can take time. Her lived experience has given her a unique appreciation for the strength it takes to recognize how deep depression goes, unhealthy patterns in relationships, rediscovering your voice, rebuilding trust in yourself, and creating a life beyond what you have endured. While every person’s story is different, Dana brings to the therapy room more than clinical training. She brings an understanding that healing is possible, that starting over can be incredibly difficult, and that the experiences that have shaped us do not have to determine what comes next. Her practice is also inspired by two simple reminders found in nature: Sea glass.... Sea glass begins as something broken and weathered by the waves. Over time, what was once jagged is softened—not because the journey was easy, but because of what it endured. Our painful experiences is much like the sea glass. Healing does not erase the past; but, it can help us move forward with greater strength, wisdom, and self-compassion. The Sparrow.... A sparrow is a song bird representing hope, resilience, and a quiet reminder that every person matters. Even during life’s most difficult seasons, your story has value, and you don’t have to face it alone. It's time to find your song again and allow yourself to sing again! Healing isn’t always about giant breakthroughs. More often, it’s found in the quiet moments—the first time you set a healthy boundary, the day your anxiety no longer makes every decision, the moment you realize you no longer blame yourself, or the realization that you’ve grown stronger than you ever imagined. Perhaps this is also why the symbols behind High Five Behavioral Health hold such meaning. The sparrow represents hope and resilience. Sea glass represents transformation—the idea that life’s roughest experiences can shape us without diminishing our worth. And the high five represents something Dana believes we sometimes forget to do while healing: stop and recognize just how far we’ve come. A high five is like a hug... it brings both a sense of celebration and comfort! Dana doesn’t believe therapy should focus solely on what’s wrong or what hurts. There should also be room for hope, humor, connection, breakthroughs, and celebration. Because sometimes healing sounds like tears. Sometimes it sounds like, “I finally understand.” And sometimes it sounds like two hands meeting in a high five. And when we reach those moments… We’ll celebrate them with a high five together.