With many years of life experiences, Dr.
Dana Reed has finally reached a point in his life that he was been working
toward since he was a young man. He has his pastoral counseling license for the
State of Maine and has set up his practice at the rotary in Windham.
“I always wanted to be a counselor,”
said Reed. “It was a logical progression for me as a Navy chaplain.”
In addition to being a Navy chaplain,
Reed taught six years in public education before getting his Masters of Science
in guidance counseling at 29 years of age. A call to ministry put his
counseling dreams on hold temporarily. He attended a seminary school in Bangor
in 1983 and earned his Master of Divinity and was called to his first church in
Raymond. While there he decided to attend Andover Newton Theological School in
Massachusetts, where he earned his Doctorate in Pastoral Counseling. Reed then
went to the University of Maine as a chaplain. After four years he returned to
Windham to be the pastor at the North Windham Union Church. During his tenure
there, he was mobilized as a part of his Naval Reservist position.
While working with service men and women
he did a lot of counseling for everything from financial issues to how to deal
with what they were seeing while on active duty.
This taught Reed how to work with people
from all religions and those with no religious background.
Maine is one of six states that license
pastoral counselors like barbers or massage therapists. “It brings two things, credibility from the state that you are qualified academically and trained to
render services appropriate to that profession. Secondly, insurance. I am
recognized by majority of third party reimbursement insurance carriers,” said
Reed.
There are a few types of therapists including
licensed clinical social workers, licensed clinical professional counselors and
pastoral counselors. Reed characterizes a pastoral counselor as “I’m a
counselor who also happens to be an ordained clergy person/pastor.” He is
academically trained and also has the religious training. He uses a variety of
forms of counseling from behavioral based, solution focused to brief
therapy. How he chooses which way he
counsels is based on an initial screening and history of the client. “I make a
determination on what approach or modality works best in their case. I work
across a spectrum,” he said.
Many people have chosen to work with
Reed because they are attracted to the spiritual standpoint he has. “As an
added benefit, I could pray with you,” he said, but said that he works with all
people of all denominations and those who do not have a religious background.
He is not here to promote a religion, but to provide and facilitate counseling.
“I do not have a heavy handed approach to religion, but they can engage it if
they want,” he said.
“Head and the heart. I’m always trying
to strike an understanding that two are part of the same one. The head is science and can be measured. The
heart can’t be quantified or analyzed,” he said. “Faith can’t be measured and
can’t be touched.”
The clients he works with, from high
school aged to senior adults, are dealing with trauma of divorce, loss of a
loved one/death, vocational/ job loss, transitions in life, empty nest,
downsizing, families in turmoil, people who want something more and are
questioning life.
“I’m more life oriented,” he said. “I
work with people who are grasping for a handle on living a more productive and
meaningful life. I have an inherent belief in the power of the Holy Spirit to
lead individuals into a solution that is right for them. Pastoral counseling
becomes the context for which that power is realized in individuals and
families.”
Reed is married with two older sons and
has been involved in the community for thirty years in churches, the school
system and Scouting.
Reed’s office is across from Seavey’s in
the Pleasant River Properties at 46 Lotts Drive. The intimate setting has
privacy and accessibility. His hours are Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5
p.m. He can reached by email at Dana.C.Reed@roadrunner.com,
by phone at 207-653-6593 or on his website at www.danareedcounselor.com.
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