Ray Holland

Ray Holland is a licensed psychotherapist and visual artist. He has been in the mental health profession for over 4 decades. First trained in family therapy and experiential creative methods, he found his clinical experience often discounted in favor of cognitive-behavioral methods and pseudo-scientific language. He has worked in nearly every facet of the field, in crisis services, rape-crisis, crisis lines, inpatient programs with adults and teens, assessing homeless and severely mentally ill...See more

Ray Holland is a licensed psychotherapist and visual artist. He has been in the mental health profession for over 4 decades. First trained in family therapy and experiential creative methods, he found his clinical experience often discounted in favor of cognitive-behavioral methods and pseudo-scientific language. He has worked in nearly every facet of the field, in crisis services, rape-crisis, crisis lines, inpatient programs with adults and teens, assessing homeless and severely mentally ill for referral to the mental health court, in groups with individuals on Federal probation and with DUIs, with distressed couples in large retreat settings, etcetera; but found much of his professional calling working with families and at-risk youth under the umbrella of prevention services in Florida, where it was better understood that young people weren't the problem (most were not delinquent nor mentally ill); in fact, they were valuable assets with unique insights into real problems. Youth Development projects involved collaboration between the art community, the local theater, runaways, teens struggling with addictions, as well as teens trained as actors and actresses and those deemed to be future leaders. In one project they were tasked to write and perform raw drama pieces, which was then developed into a full length play titled Drugged Home, performed to a packed house. For the past 10 years he has lived in North Carolina where he has specialized in complex trauma, addiction and couple issues. He is in private practice with his wife, and one day a week facilitates psychodrama for professionals who are in residential addiction treatment. While raising twins, he published two novels for young adults, and several years ago published his couple's workbook, Partner-Coached Healing for use in groups and trainings. He has a website devoted to his multimedia art, Rayhollandart.com and a YouTube channel. He also has a therapy website, aplacetohealandgrow, com He has years of experience in providing trainings, teaching on a variety of topics, and has provided couple retreats. In response to the narrowly focused and preplanned treatment that is driven by profit systems, his latest book argues for a process of healing that is creative and open, exploring the underlying barriers to an inspired way of living. This is a path to increased Beauty, attachment to self, others and the world, and to Truth, authentic awareness See less