Laurie Schmit
Hi, I'm Laurie, and I WANT to hear what you have to say! Does anyone ever tell you that? Being heard and understood is an essential part of therapy. Therapists have varying skills and knowledge that we bring to the table. Deciding who to reach out to can be overwhelming, so I offer a free phone consult so you can get your questions answered and gain a sense of who I am before committing to therapy. This is important work, which means you get to choose the best fit for you. Having worked as a therapist for almost 20 years now, I consistently receive feedback that I have a warm, calming presence.
First session
My style is compassionate, collaborative, and creative. We will work together to figure out how I can best support you. You are not here by mistake. Let's connect, and begin your growth into your very best self! Take up space, be unapologetically you! I focus on somatic and trauma-informed work. We sometimes know what to do but need help taking steps and creating the safety to move through any barriers. Then you can have the freedom to take charge of your life-go from surviving to thriving!
Strengths
With over 19 years of experience, my skills include a multitude of approaches to therapy, and strong empathetic and listening skills. I've worked extensively with busy professionals, especially in the medical and mental health fields. What makes you unique is that you are invested in self-improvement, balance, connection, and discovering worth outside of performance.
Ideal clients
I'm well versed at helping others to heal the effects of childhood trauma, neglect, and abuse, including adult children of alcoholics and emotionally immature parents. I imagine you want to stop talking in circles and start making progress. If so, we will integrate counseling, brain science, body awareness, mindfulness, coaching, parts work, motivation hacks, and healthier thoughts and behaviors to lead to significant progress and true healing. We will work together, using well-proven techniques, to integrate disparate selves into a healthier, authentic and whole self.
Treatment methods
Motivational Interviewing
I use Motivational Interviewing to help my clients address their mixed (or ambivalent) feelings about decisions, relationships, behavior change, and situations. This empowers you to find your own internal motivation to change. The approach I take is that you don't need someone else to tell you what to do--Self determination is especially empowering.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use CBT to help my clients uncover the links between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors so they can then learn how to notice and change unhelpful or unhealthy patterns.
Brainspotting
Brainspotting is a technique that identifies specific eye positions, linked to where you store trauma or distressing memories in your brain. By focusing on these spots while processing difficult material/memories, it helps you release stuck emotional and physical stress. Some clients will then verbally recount the trauma, but this is not always necessary. Grounding skills are taught and time is always allotted to calm and reset before session ends.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
This approach is used to treat both mental and physical health conditions, including anxiety disorders and chronic pain. I use this to teach clients to focus on the present moment without judgment in order to stop negative or "automatic" thought loops.
Psychodynamic
Psychodynamic psychotherapy is also called "talk therapy" and we use it to explore how past experiences and unconscious thoughts impact current behaviors and relationships. We primarily use it to uncover root causes of distress and dysfunction rather than just treating symptoms. This can lead to long-lasting emotional change.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Agnostic
Spiritual but not religious
White
Woman
Top specialties
Anxiety
Grief
Trauma and PTSD
Other specialties
Chronic Illness
Coping Skills
Health/Medical Issues
Life Transitions
Older Adults
Parenting
Peer Relationships
Self Esteem
Spirituality
Women's Issues
Serves
Adults (18 to 64)
Elders (65 and above)
Individual Therapy
Man
Non-binary
Woman
Doesn't specialize in
Addiction
Anger Management
Autism
Bipolar Disorder
Couples Counseling
Couples Counseling
Crisis Intervention
Dissociative Disorders
Domestic Violence
Eating Disorders
Family Therapy
Family Therapy
Gambling Addiction
High Clinical Acuity
Perinatal Mental Health
Sex Addiction
Sex Therapy
Substance Misuse
Licensed in
ArizonaLicense LCSW-22283
MichiganLicense 6801089864