Meet the Therapist
Kimberly McCray, LMHC, LPC, NCC
My name is Kimberly McCray, founder of Beyond the Couch Counseling. As a licensed therapist and doctoral candidate, I support adolescents, young adults, and adults through life transitions, emotional challenges, medical trauma, caregiving, and chronic illness. My practice is grounded in building genuine, trusting relationships where you feel seen and heard. I work collaboratively, drawing on your strengths and honoring your story with a trauma-informed approach. My goal is to provide a space for honesty, reflection, and growth, using person-centered and evidence-based methods to foster meaningful, lasting change.
My path to becoming a therapist has been shaped by navigating the complexities of family life and my experiences as a two-time kidney transplant recipient. These experiences have fostered a deep empathy for the ways in which medical trauma, chronic illness, and caregiving can affect every aspect of a person’s life, including emotions, identity, and relationships. They have also reinforced my belief that no one is defined solely by a diagnosis or circumstance; rather, these are just one part of a person’s overall identity. In our work together, I strive to provide a safe and welcoming environment where you can share your story, reconnect with your authentic self, and develop tools to support healing both within our sessions and in your daily life.
My Approach
To me, therapy is a deeply human and collaborative journey. I anchor my work in trauma-informed care, guiding clients as they uncover the meaning in their stories and build skills for lasting emotional balance. Each session unfolds at a thoughtful pace, offering room for reflection and growth, free from the pressure to hurry or force solutions. I weave together person-centered and narrative approaches, inviting clients to explore their identities and life patterns in ways that foster empowerment. Alongside this, I offer practical skills to nurture coping, emotional insight, and meaningful change rooted in personal values. Every therapeutic path is uniquely tailored, with an emphasis on deepening self-understanding, fortifying inner strengths, and nurturing growth that lasts well beyond our sessions.
Areas of Focus
I walk alongside adolescents, young adults, and adults as they navigate:
- Life transitions and identity shifts
- Medical trauma and chronic illness
- Caregiver stress, burnout, and emotional fatigue
- Disordered eating patterns, including emotional eating and binge eating behaviors, within a recovery-oriented framework
- Anxiety, depression, and emotional overwhelm
- Relationship challenges and boundary setting
- Family and interpersonal dynamics
- Self-worth, body image, and emotional regulation
I provide support for disordered eating patterns and recovery-related concerns. Individuals experiencing active or medically unstable eating disorders may be better supported through a higher level of care or specialized treatment, and I am happy to assist with appropriate referrals when needed.