Hi there! I’m Laura. It’s nice to meet you! I’m a marriage and family therapist based in California. I’ve been practicing for over 10 years now. I earned my master’s degree from St. Mary’s College in Moraga, California. Taking the first step towards bettering your mental health is the best thing you can do for you. Counseling can be intimidating, but it’s also incredibly empowering. I create a safe and welcoming space where you can explore your concerns about anxiety, depression, and self-care. My goal is to help you develop assertive communication and boundaries with yourself and others, which can significantly improve your quality of life. Counseling can be a powerful tool for personal growth and help you build the life you truly deserve. If that’s what you’re looking for, I’m here to support you whenever you’re ready to share.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

Your first session will consist in providing a warm inviting atmosphere with introductions, followed by was brought you into therapy. This will help me create a tailored plan for us to work through in follow-up sessions. For teens, I start by having a parent in the room. They share what they love about their child, helping the teen feel more at ease. We also have some squishy toys for them to play with while the parent talks to me. After that, the tean gets to decide if they want their parent to stay in the room or go wait in the waiting room. Then, I focus on getting to know the teen better. I ask them about their favorite foods, activities, and passions. I also ask what brought them to counseling. Depending on how comfortable they feel, we either talk more or I bring out some therapeutic games to play.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

My greatest strength lies in my kindness and compassion, which I demonstrate by creating a comfortable and supportive environment where you feel heard and understood. I actively collaborate with you to develop a trusting and open relationship, which is crucial for initiating positive change in the therapeutic process.

Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.

Working with adolescents brings me immense joy. They face various challenges, including social anxiety, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, body image issues, and the pressure to conform. I’m passionate about creating a safe, non-judgmental, and understanding space where they feel heard and can address their struggles. By providing them with positive and healthy coping mechanisms, I aim to empower them to grow and flourish. Furthermore, I have a deep sense of empathy for assisting individuals in confronting and managing their current life circumstances. Additionally, I find great fulfillment in working with couples. Marriage can be challenging, and couples may find themselves trapped in negative patterns without realizing how to break free. In such cases, I support couples in rebuilding their marriages by equipping them with the necessary tools, such as effective communication. This fosters a deeper understanding between partners and enables them to express their needs and desires within the marriage.

About Laura Madsen