Dr. Randi Gray grows trauma-focused counseling practice in Mesa

Dr. Randi Gray, a Mesa-based counselor and founder of Randi Gray Counseling, has built a growing trauma-focused practice while raising seven children, earning advanced degrees and mentoring younger clinicians. Her story highlights how specialized training, family support and steady reinvestment helped her expand a private practice without outside investors or loans.

Why it matters: - Dr. Randi Gray’s practice shows how a solo counseling business can grow through specialized training, reinvestment and family support. - Her work matters in a crowded mental health market where clients increasingly seek trauma-focused care from clinicians with advanced preparation. - Gray also mentors interns and associate counselors, shaping the next generation of behavioral health professionals.

What happened: - Dr. Randi Gray is a licensed professional counselor, board-approved clinical supervisor, entrepreneur and founder of Randi Gray Counseling in Mesa, Arizona. - Gray built the practice while maintaining an active caseload and leading a team of nine counselors. - She also supervises counseling interns and licensed associate counselors. - Her responsibilities include operations, marketing, networking and business development. - Gray has practiced for nine years. - She began her counseling career in her late 30s after raising seven children.

The details: - Gray holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and a doctorate in psychology with an emphasis in cognition and instruction from Grand Canyon University. - She is a National Certified Counselor, a board-certified counselor and a state board-approved supervisor. - Her specialized training includes EMDR and Somatic Experiencing. - Gray said early training advice from a trainer led her to pursue specialized instruction before she even began seeing clients. - She completed training in Somatic Experiencing and EMDR before starting her internship. - For about 12 years, Gray has advised interns and students to pursue specialized trainings while still in school, when discounts can make programs more affordable. - Her guidance to young women entering counseling is to identify preferred approaches and build those skills early. - Gray earned her PhD while counseling clients, supervising clinicians and running her business. - She launched Randi Gray Counseling without outside investors or business loans, saving for years and reinvesting in the practice. - Her family helped furnish the first office suite and later helped expand the space by removing a wall. - Gray said her husband’s contractor experience was especially helpful during the buildout. - By the time the practice opened, her schedule was already full. - The practice later expanded into a larger counseling center that can support a growing team and more clients seeking trauma-focused care. - Gray continues to work with community partners to offer free workshops and classes.

Between the lines: - Gray’s career reflects a long-term bet on specialization over speed. - Her comments suggest that practical clinical tools, not just degrees, can make the biggest difference in client care. - The broader market has become harder for mental health providers, and Gray said some Valley practices have closed. - She described the current environment as the toughest she has seen in nine years. - Gray also said the practice could grow faster with more investment in social media and infrastructure, but she is choosing to wait until the money is there. - Her family-first approach appears to shape both the business and the brand of the practice.

What’s next: - Gray plans to keep balancing direct client care, supervision and practice leadership as Randi Gray Counseling continues to grow. - She will keep encouraging students and interns to pursue specialized training early. - The practice is likely to keep focusing on trauma-informed care as its core service. - Gray also expects to continue community outreach through workshops and educational programs.

The bottom line: - Dr. Randi Gray built a trauma-focused counseling practice by pairing advanced training with persistence, patient growth and hands-on family help.