Hello!
Welcome to Lakeview! We are so glad you're here. 

Hi, I’m Laura, and my pronouns are she/her. I know firsthand that finding a good fit in a therapist can feel overwhelming, especially if you haven't felt seen or heard in a while. Putting yourself out there in any relationship can be tough, let alone one in which you might feel particularly vulnerable.

 

As a licensed professional counselor with over 10 years of counseling experience, you can expect to be treated with care, compassion, and a non-judgmental supportive presence. Whether you are an experienced therapy client or scheduling therapy for the first time, I will meet you where you're at with acceptance and a gentle curiosity for the challenges leading you to seek support.

 

My therapeutic approach is grounded in the belief that our early experiences with our parents and/or caregivers shape our patterns of behavior and emotional responses throughout our lives. For some, our early experiences may have been unpredictable, inconsistent, threatening, smothering, or chaotic. As a result, we may find ourselves:

• struggling to feel safe and secure in relationships, 

• frequently engaging in self-sabotage

• caught in a cycle of endless second-guessing, unable to make decisions 

• burnt out by high achievement or perfectionism 

• consistently putting the needs of others before our own 

• pushing others away with aggression, jealousy, insecurity, or neediness 

• unable to manage conflict in a healthy way 

• becoming overly attached to partners that aren't good for us 

• plagued by feelings of not good enough or “Imposter Syndrome”

• chronically feeling let down that others don't seem to value our worth 

• compelled to manage difficult feelings with food, shopping, substances, etc., or

• falling way short of the parent we'd like to be.

 

Our past is part of our story, but not the whole story. It's possible to develop new, more compassionate ways of relating to ourselves and others while increasing our capacity to experience life peacefully, joyfully, confidently, and with our whole selves.

 

For those interested in integrating body-based techniques with talk therapy, I am a registered dance/movement therapist trained to utilize the body and non-verbal expression as an inroad to the psychological process. We'll engage in movement and mindfulness practices designed to tap into our innate human ability to creatively solve problems. Dance/movement therapy may be particularly beneficial for those who find themselves "stuck" on their journey or who are finding it difficult to put words to their experience. (You can learn more about dance/movement therapy here.)

 

I am committed to guiding individuals to ground themselves in their truth, overcome their emotional struggles, identify their deeply held values, and align their energy and actions in support of their best selves. I see myself as an ally to those seeking to break cycles of abuse and neglect, generating a positive ripple effect at home and in the community. I will collaborate with you to create a customized treatment plan that meets your unique needs and sets you on a path to achieving your goals. I believe we can transform even our most difficult personal challenges into life-enhancing opportunities with time, self-compassion, and the right support. 

 

My therapy specialties include working with teen and adult children of borderline, narcissistic, and emotionally immature parents, as well as those with parents who struggle with alcoholism and substance abuse. Additional specialities include perfectionism, burnout prevention and recovery, and parent coaching as well as life transitions such as college, marriage, exploring sexuality and gender identity, becoming a parent, loss of a loved one, navigating divorce and estrangement, changing careers or considering career change, and perimenopause/menopause.