Consulting Overview
At Gray Matters Therapy & Consulting, LLC we provide expert consulting services informed by more than 20 years of experience in human services, program leadership, crisis intervention, LGBTQ+ advocacy, trauma-informed care, and evidence based practice. Our consulting practice bridges clinical expertise with operational strategy to help organizations create safer, more inclusive, and more effective systems of care.
I partner with nonprofits, schools, state agencies, shelters, healthcare systems, housing programs, and community organizations to strengthen their capacity, improve client outcomes, and ensure equity-centered, trauma-responsive services.
To learn more see below or please reach out to schedule a call to further discuss your needs and how we can help!
All Services can be delivered:
- On-site
- Virtual (Zoom)
- As a one-time workshop
- Multi-session series
- Ongoing staff support & consultation
Areas of Expertise & Consulting Services
LGBTQ+ Inclusion, Policy, & Best Practices
As a long-time LGBTQ+ liaison, advocate, and program leader, I help organizations:
- Develop affirming policies for LGBTQIA+ clients and staff
- Train teams in inclusive, culturally responsive practices
- Improve organizational climate, language, and protocols
- Build systems that support identity exploration, safety, and belonging
- Address discrimination, bias, and gaps in service delivery
This service is ideal for: schools, youth programs, shelters/housing orgs, healthcare teams, HR departments, clinical groups or mental health agencies, child-welfare agencies, community programs, and DEI offices/groups.
Trauma-Informed, Crisis-Responsive System Development
With roots in crisis work and shelter/housing leadership, I specialize in helping agencies:
- Implement trauma-informed frameworks for staff and clients
- Build or refine crisis-response protocols
- Reduce staff burnout and secondary traumatic stress
- Create psychologically safe teams
- Develop compassionate, accountable organizational cultures
This service is ideal for: shelters/housing orgs, HR departments, clinical groups or programs, child-welfare agencies, youth programs, crisis programs, mental health agencies, community agencies, and schools.
Shelter, Housing, & Homelessness Program Consulting
My extensive leadership in working with the unhoused population makes me a strong consultant to aid in developing:
- Shelter operations, best practices, and efficiency
- Housing stabilization strategies
- Eviction prevention programming
- Case management workflow and documentation improvement
- Staff training, onboarding, and supervision systems
- Compliance with state and federal guidelines (HUD, EOHLC, etc.)
In addition to the above, I can support agencies in developing programs that integrate an intersection of mental health, trauma-informed care, and housing services.
Organizational Training & Staff Development
I offer engaging, practical, evidence-based training on topics including:
- Motivational Interviewing (MI)
- Harm Reduction
- Trauma-Informed Care
- De-escalation and crisis intervention
- Strength-Based Practice
- LGBTQ+ affirming care or program development
- Emotional regulation and coping skill development
- Working with youth and families
- Housing-first principles
- Supervision and leadership for human-services teams
- Staff development
- How to work with challenging personalities
- DEI best practices or development
These can be delivered:
On-site
Virtual (Zoom)
One-time workshops
Multi-session training series
Ongoing staff support & consultation
Program Development, Quality Improvement & Strategic Planning
My extensive experience helps me guide organizations to:
- Assess program strengths and gaps
- Improve workflows and service delivery
- Develop new programs from the ground up
- Strengthen documentation and accountability
- Lead or support strategic planning processes
- Create operational policies and procedures
- Increase compliance with grants and contracts
This services is ideal for: human service organizations, nonprofit agencies, and state agencies. Especially those serving the unhoused population, transitional programs, youth service agencies, nonprofit agencies serving marginalized communities, and crisis management programs.
Policy, Compliance, & Audit Preparation
I can also support agencies with:
- Policy creation and revision
- Contract compliance (state and federal)
- Audit preparation and corrective action plans
- Case file QA
- Documentation systems improvement
Leadership Coaching for Social-Service Supervisors
My experience supervising multidisciplinary teams and interagency collaboration allows me to provide:
- Support for new supervisors
- Guidance on managing difficult staff situations
- Strategies for leading through crisis and change
- Coaching on communication, conflict resolution, and boundaries
- Methods to integrate working with a diverse staff
- Ways to engage challenging staff
- Burnout mitigation techniques
Why Organizations Choose Gray Matters
I bring a unique combination of:
- 20+ years in human services
- Experience in shelter, housing, crisis, child welfare, and mental health
- Proven leadership managing teams, programs, and system-wide initiatives
- Deep clinical knowledge
- Specialization in LGBTQ+ populations
- Strong communication and training skills
- Trauma-informed, person-centered, equity-focused approach
- My clinical and programmatic background sets me apart from most consultants
Guiding your business through the project is what matters at Gray Matters
Meet our team
Mackenzie Gray (she/her/hers), MSW, LCSW
Founder & CEO
Learn more
Additionally we hire other expert clinicians or consultants to assist on projects as needed.
FAQs
How much do you charge for consulting projects?
Each project is priced at a flat-rate fee which is determined based on the scope of the project, the time, and the desired deliverables. Additional factors include the desired venue of delivery, whether additional consultants will be needed for the project, depth of assessments or training, and specific organizational needs.
Do you work on smaller projects or larger projects?
We work on any size project, we believe no job is too big or too small!
What does a typical consultation project consist of?
This depends on the needs and desired deliverables. However, each project begins with a brief consultation to understand your goals and needs. I will then produce a project outline, estimated timeline, clear deliverables, and flat-rate project fee.
Do your consulting services have to occur in Massachusetts?
No, consulting can occur in any state or country. However, adding therapeutic services can be part of the deliverables, but that can only occur in Massachusetts as that is where my LCSW is currently held.
What does LCSW mean?
This means I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and have completed my Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree as well as training after I completed my degrees and a licensure exam. This allows me to practice ethically with evidence based modalities to treat youth, adult, and family mental health needs.