Shelton Counseling Joins Mason County EDC Membership

Mason County, WA - August 5, 2024 - Please join us in giving a warm welcome to our newest EDC member, Dacia Dunbar, Marriage and Family Therapist, and owner of Shelton Counseling.

Before becoming a therapist, Dacia worked for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) as a Transportation Planner for 13 years. Inspired by the positive impact her therapist had on her life, Dacia decided to take a different direction in life and return to college to earn a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Saint Martin’s University. The journey was challenging, filled with many difficult moments, but the support of her loving husband helped her persevere. "My partner believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. Who you choose to surround yourself with really impacts whether you go after your dreams or not. Humans need people; we are social creatures."

After leaving WSDOT, and while pursuing her degree, Dacia worked as a case manager for Behavioral Health Resources. Using the skills learned there and armed with new knowledge gained by experiences, Dacia returned to the public sector and accepted a position with the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, & Families in a social worker role. Shortly after graduating in 2021, Dacia opened Shelton Counseling, PLLC.

When asked what she found most valuable when opening her practice, Dacia highlighted her undergraduate business degree, which equipped her to run the business side of her practice responsibly and ethically. She also believes that her attunement to social justice issues, strong ties to LGBTQIA2+ communities, and vocal support for progressive ideologies, have greatly contributed to her success. "People will talk and share with others in the community that I am a safe person to talk to, especially in a small town where we feel like we cannot be vocal about the things we believe in without harming our personal image."

Like many of us in Economic Development, Dacia strives to make positive impacts on the community where she lives, works, and plays. Working in Olympia caused feelings of disconnection from home, but opening her business in Mason County felt like a homecoming. Dacia has been approached by clients who have introduced their friends and families to her, making her feel like a valued part of the community fabric. As a lifetime Sheltonian, this has been personally important to her.

Finally, when asked why she decided to join the Mason EDC membership, Dacia provided a thought-provoking response. "I think a big part of therapy is that it has been stigmatized for so many years. Therapists are like hidden community members. To protect HIPAA, we don’t say hi to our clients who do not approach us first, which is a huge disadvantage. When counselors are involved in the community and people can have normal interactions with them, it humanizes counselors. Just like we do with our doctors, counselors should be viewed in the same way. When I say I am a counselor, a business owner, and a part of the EDC, it opens the eyes of folks who may have had misconstrued, or stigmatized, ideas about therapy or mental health."

Dacia also offers to speak to groups about mental health. By bringing counselors to the forefront rather than keeping them as hidden community gems, we can move forward in erasing the stigma against mental health.

NEW LOCATION: 1635 Olympic Hwy N, Ste 102

Front Lobby

Dacia Dunbar, Marriage and Family Therapist, and owner of Shelton Counseling.