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Serenity First Counseling, LLC​

Therapy and Education

Helping couples strengthen their relationships.

Shayla Gray, relationship and family systems therapist and educator

Shayla Gray

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Harvard-trained in Couples Therapy

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EMDR-Certified Therapist

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15+ Years in Mental Health

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Licensed in Maryland & Virginia

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​PhD Candidate in Marriage & Family Therapy

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Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

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Relationship & Family Systems Therapist

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Life Transitions Therapist & Educator

Helping couples strengthen their relationships, supporting individuals through life's major transitions, and equipping organizations with evidence-informed training on trauma, family systems, and parenthood.

Now Accepting New Clients

In-person and virtual appointments are available for individuals, couples, and families.

Five-star rating

“Shayla Gray is an amazing therapist. She listens deeply, gives incredible support, and creates a really safe space. Highly recommend her practice!"

— H.

When life feels heavy, therapy can help you slow down and find your footing again.

You may be navigating relationship stress that keeps repeating itself, carrying the impact of trauma in your everyday life, or feeling emotionally overwhelmed by a season that has stretched you further than you expected. You may also be adjusting to a major life transition — including pregnancy, postpartum, or parenthood — and realizing how much support you need.

At Serenity First Counseling, I help couples and individuals make sense of what’s happening beneath the surface, heal what feels unresolved, and move toward greater clarity, connection, and emotional steadiness.

Support for the seasons that stretch you most

Clients often come to Serenity First Counseling when they’re navigating:

Couples Therapy

Strengthen connection, improve communication, and navigate challenges together.

Individual Therapy

Build self-awareness, manage life’s challenges, and support personal growth.

EMDR Intensives

Process trauma, reduce distress, and move toward healing.

Professional Trainings & Workshops

Build skills, deepen knowledge, and strengthen professional practice.

Pregnancy Postpartum and Parenthood

Support for the emotional changes and challenges of parenthood.

Couples Therapy

For couples navigating conflict, communication breakdowns, emotional distance, or the strain of major life transitions. We’ll work toward greater understanding, healthier communication, and stronger connection.

Couple experiencing relationship conflict during a couples therapy session
Couple talking with a therapist during a couples counseling session

My Areas of Expertise

Individual Therapy

For adults navigating anxiety, emotional overwhelm, trauma, grief, identity shifts, or life transitions that feel difficult to carry alone.

Man speaking with a therapist during an individual therapy session

EMDR Therapy & Intensives

For clients who want focused support in processing trauma, distressing memories, or patterns that continue to show up in everyday life.

Therapist providing EMDR therapy to a client during a trauma-focused session

Pregnancy, Postpartum & Parenthood Support

For individuals and couples navigating the emotional, relational, and identity shifts that can come with pregnancy, postpartum, and the transition into parenthood.

Couple with a baby navigating emotional challenges during the transition to parenthood
Pregnant woman at home during the transition to parenthood

Professional Trainings & Workshops

For organizations, schools, agencies, and community groups seeking trauma-informed education, relationship-focused trainings, and mental health workshops.

Group participating in a professional training workshop led by a facilitator

More About Shayla

  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist serving clients in Maryland and Virginia.

  • Supports couples and individuals navigating:

    • Trauma and emotional overwhelm

    • Relationship stress and conflict

    • Major life transitions

    • Pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenthood

    • Fertility journeys, pregnancy loss, and birth-related experiences

    • Postpartum anxiety, depression, panic, and intrusive thoughts

    • Identity changes and relationship shifts after becoming a parent

  • Approach: Collaborative, trauma-informed, and grounded in creating emotional safety and sustainable tools for healing.

  • Creates a safe space to process difficult experiences, strengthen relationships, reduce triggers, and reconnect with yourself.

  • Education & Training:

    • B.S. in Psychology — Virginia State University

    • M.A. in Human Services — Liberty University

    • Harvard-trained in Couples Therapy

    • EMDR-certified

    • Advanced couples-focused training

    • PhD candidate in Marriage and Family Therapy at Northcentral University

  • Research focus: Relationship satisfaction during parenthood.

Grounded and Accredited Practice

EMDRIA Certified Therapist badge
Postpartum Support International (PSI) Certificate of Completion badge
EMDRIA Certified Therapist certificate for Shayla Gray
Happy couples participating in group therapy

Looking for support as a couple or a community to grow with?

If you and your partner are looking for support beyond therapy, Serenity Connection Collective offers a space for couples who want guidance, education, and community while navigating pregnancy, parenthood, and the changes that come with building a life together.

Frequently Asked Questions

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