Meet Crystal Krueger of Goodyear

Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystal Krueger.

Hi Crystal , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Dawn Childhood Foundation started with a lunch with my dad. I was new to the mental health field and lamenting all the things I wished I could change: easier access to care, excellent services for everyone, and a place where whole people and whole families could heal. My dad’s response was simple: “Let’s do it.” Along with him and my sister, we began envisioning what that could look like. We spent two years developing a strategy before officially launching in 2018.

We initially began as a for-profit organization (Dawn Institute) with the mission of preventing trauma by working with children and families. If any parent called us to say their child or family was struggling, we were — and continue to be — committed to seeing them. We deeply believe that early intervention helps prevent poor mental and emotional outcomes in children who will one day become adults.

We also treat trauma in children as young as two years old and throughout the lifespan. Our work includes addressing physical abuse, sexual abuse, traumatic loss, severe accidents, and more.

For the first six years, we focused on building our team — growing from one full-time therapist (me) to a team of six. We were determined to offer truly excellent services, so our team prioritized learning how to treat trauma effectively. We also wanted to make therapy more accessible, so we began accepting three major insurance providers, allowing us to serve working-class families who might not otherwise afford care.

In 2023, my dad and sister began talking about how well we were serving part of the population, but also about the need to make sure everyone had access to care. That meant finding a way to fund therapy for families without insurance or with state-funded insurance. Out of that goal, Dawn Childhood Foundation was born.

We’re big dreamers, and we wanted the Foundation to make a real impact. It was built to accomplish three things:
1. Fund therapy for children and families experiencing financial hardship
2. Raise community awareness about the risks and treatment of childhood trauma
3. Research the most effective approaches to treating children who have experienced trauma

In 2024, we donated Dawn Institute to the Foundation, allowing us to operate fully as a nonprofit. We continue to provide excellent services in the prevention and treatment of childhood trauma — and now we don’t have to turn families away because of financial barriers.

In October of last year, we held our first fundraiser. Thanks to generous donors, we raised about $85,000 — and 100% of those funds went directly to therapy for children and families. Our team continues to grow, now with eleven providers dedicated to offering the most effective trauma treatment and finding the best ways to support families.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Like running any organization, there have been many gains and some risks along the way. My dad told me early on, “Crystal, if we do this, there will be times you’ll be ‘crying in your beer,’ wondering why you made this decision.” I’ve called him on more than one occasion to let him know I was, metaphorically, crying in my beer.

When we initially launched in 2018, another organization graciously allowed us to use their space free of charge — something I’m still deeply grateful for. After a year, however, we were asked to leave with a 30-day notice — just one week before Christmas. We were left scrambling a bit, but managed to pull things together. That move brought us to our current location, which has turned out to be a wonderful space for us.

When we first moved in, though, we had a lot of offices and very few therapists — just me and one part-time clinician. It was stressful as a new organization trying to stay afloat. Those first few years were challenging as we worked to find therapists who were the right cultural fit for our team. After about a year, we finally started to gain traction in building our staff.

I suppose we didn’t learn our lesson the first time around, because we decided to rent the suite next to us, doubling our space. Again, we knew it was a big risk, but we also saw a bigger vision. Thankfully, this time we were able to find therapists much more quickly to fill the new offices.

Mostly, it has been a joy to work alongside my dad and sister. We all dream big and know how to move toward those dreams. Most of the challenges we’ve faced are the typical ones that come with building an organization while staying true to our value of providing excellent care.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Dawn Childhood Foundation was born from a simple yet powerful belief: every child deserves the chance to grow up free from the lasting impact of trauma. Too often, children and families who need help the most face barriers to accessing quality care. DCF exists to remove those barriers—ensuring every child and family has access to the specialized, compassionate support they need to heal.

At the heart of DCF’s work are three core commitments that shape everything we do.
Specialized Trauma Care for Children: Our therapists are uniquely trained to work with children ages 2–18 who have experienced trauma in its many forms—grief, physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, self-harm, neglect, parental abandonment, or time spent in foster or kinship care. Every member of our team is trauma-informed, ensuring each child receives care that is both compassionate and deeply effective.

Healing Families, Not Just Children: We believe children cannot out-heal their caregivers. True healing happens when the entire family system is supported. That’s why DCF provides wraparound services that include therapy and tools for caregivers and siblings, helping families heal together.

Equipping Families for Lasting Change: Our goal is not simply to provide therapy, but to help families build the skills they need for lifelong healing. Whenever possible, we work to restore and strengthen the family unit, empowering them to break cycles of trauma for generations to come.

I believe we are known for two things: first, our community recognizes us as a mental health organization that genuinely cares. Our hope is that when people walk through our doors, it feels like mental health that feels like home—from the welcoming atmosphere to the compassionate care they receive. Second, I’m incredibly proud of our team and the culture we’ve built together. We care for one another not only as co-workers but as people. Often, the same principles of healthy relationships we teach families are the ones we practice within our own team.

At Dawn, we are set apart from other practices in meaningful ways. Above all, we believe it is essential to include parents in the treatment process from the very beginning and throughout their child’s journey. We work with parents to recognize the ways they already support their children well, while also helping them strengthen the sense of security their child feels. We ensure that parents are equipped to support their child throughout therapy. I’ve rarely heard of other practices that dedicate as much time and effort to including parents and making them an essential part of their child’s healing.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I believe a desire for formative learning and for excellence is imperative to the success of Dawn and my own success. I”m constantly looking for ways to challenge the status quo, obtain feedback, and find more creative, effective treatment approaches.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dawninstitute.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dawninstitute

Image Credits
All images done in-house.