Meet the Third Space Care Team
Dana Charles
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Founder
I created Third Space around the idea that we all need a place that exists beyond our roles and responsibilities, and a space where we can show up as our full, complicated selves. Therapy can be that space: somewhere to slow down, be curious instead of judgmental, untangle what’s weighing you down, and reconnect with who you are underneath all the expectations.
I’ve spent my career working with individuals and families in a variety of settings, including private practice, nonprofit organizations, residential crisis care, substance use recovery, child and family mediation, and clinical leadership. These experiences have taught me many important things, but mostly that people are not problems to be fixed. We are all humans trying our best with the tools, experiences, and nervous systems we have. My hope is that working with our therapists at Third Space will help you evolve those tools and strengthen your nervous system.
My clinical style is warm, collaborative, and (when appropriate) sprinkled with humor because I believe therapy can be meaningful without feeling intimidating. I love helping people understand themselves more deeply, navigate anxiety and perfectionism, strengthen relationships, and make sense of the patterns that keep showing up.
When I’m not translating feelings and helping people make friends with their nervous systems, I’m probably chasing my toddler, at the gym, or reading a book I’ll stay up too late finishing.
Whether you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, disconnected, or simply ready for something to shift. I’m glad you found your way here. Welcome to your Third Space.
I became a therapist because I believe no one should have to carry their pain alone. I'm passionate about walking alongside people through life's difficult moments and helping them make sense of the experiences that have shaped their patterns, beliefs, and relationships.
Throughout my career, I've worked in a variety of settings, including community mental health, intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, and nonprofit organization. These experiences have allowed me to support individuals across diverse backgrounds, needs, and stages of life. While I enjoy working with a wide range of clients, I am especially passionate about working with women, teens, and young adults navigating life transitions, trauma, relational dynamics, grief and loss, and personal growth.
My approach to therapy is warm, down-to-earth, and authentic. In my experience, healing happens through genuine human connection, so you'll find that I bring my real personality into the therapy room. I strive to create a healthy therapeutic relationship where you feel safe, understood, challenged when needed, and genuinely supported.
I believe healing often begins when we understand how our experiences have influenced the ways we see ourselves, others, and the world around us. Together, we'll explore those patterns with compassion while helping you recognize your autonomy, strengthen your sense of agency, and move toward greater freedom in your life. I work best with individuals who are ready to take the courageous step of looking inward, exploring their stories, and creating new ways of relating to themselves and others.
Outside of the therapy room, I enjoy going to pilates, spending time with my pets, unwinding with reality TV, planning my next weekend trip, and on occasion doomscrolling for way too long.
I consider it a privilege to be part of my clients' journeys. I'll celebrate your wins, sit with you through difficult moments, and be your biggest cheerleader as you build a life that feels more aligned, meaningful, and true to who you are.
Lillian Carbajal
Associate Professional Clinical Counselor, 21639
Supervised by Dana Charles, LMFT 114542
Gladys Orona
Gladys Orona
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, 123909
Supervised by Dana Charles, LMFT 114542
I became a therapist because I believe mental health care should feel safe, culturally responsive, and accessible to everyone. As a bilingual therapist, I am especially passionate about challenging the stigma surrounding mental health within Mexican culture and creating space for people of color who may have experienced shame, misunderstanding, or stigma around seeking support. Our culture, family, identity, and lived experiences are important parts of healing, and they deserve a place in the therapy room.
Throughout my career, I have worked across a range of settings, including crisis residential care, residential treatment for adults and adolescents, PHP and IOP programs, and school-based services. These experiences have given me the opportunity to support people through many different challenges and stages of their healing journey.
My approach is client-centered, compassionate, and grounded in cultural humility. I often describe myself as the friend who will hold space for you, challenge you when you need it, and speak love and light into you along the way. I’ll listen without judgment, celebrate your growth, challenge the thoughts and beliefs keeping you discouraged, and help you reconnect with the parts of yourself that may have gotten lost along the way. I don’t believe therapy is about “fixing” you. Healing can mean understanding yourself more deeply, processing what you’ve experienced, reconnecting with who you are, and discovering that you’re capable of more than self-doubt has allowed you to believe.
Outside of the therapy room, I find joy in my family and can usually be found enthusiastically, and sometimes loudly, cheering on my kids. I also love reading, journaling, painting, and finding quiet moments to reconnect with myself. I feel things deeply, and I consider it a privilege to sit across from another person, hear their story, and walk alongside them for part of their journey. I can’t wait to hear yours, uplift you, challenge the voice that tells you that you aren’t enough, and shine a little light on the parts of you that matter most. You don’t have to navigate it all alone. I’m here to walk alongside you.