I am a licensed clinical social worker in both CA and NC with several years of experience in the medical and mental health space. I have lived experience with disability, I am a cancer survivor, and I am an active duty military spouse! I help clients learn to move through challenging life events while building the tools to create resilience, change, and connection. I believe in each person's innate ability to move towards wellness and I am deeply passionate about helping clients recognize and build their internal resources. As a social worker, I recognize the systems in my clients' lives that impact their health including the socio-political landscape at large. I am a believer that therapy should be most importantly a safe place for my clients and will work with you on making sure our rapport and sense of trust is as the forefront of our work together. I value the realness of showing up as myself in session and hope that you will do the same! When I am not wearing my therapist hat you can find me in the kitchen, cuddling with my two dogs, or trying out a new adventure with my family.

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

Our first session together will be much more structured than later sessions. I will be focusing on completing a comprehensive assessment about your current needs, your mental health symptoms, and your history. I want to learn about what makes you....YOU! I will also be asking you about your goals for therapy and what has motivated you to seek support. We will spend some time getting to know each other and I will make space for you to ask any questions that may be on the forefront of your mind to make sure that we are an ideal fit for ongoing therapy together. Rest assured that we will go at your pace and my focus will be on building trust in our relationship so that you feel valued, heard, and safe inside of session.

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

I believe in the power of therapeutic relationship to create real change in a client's life. The best way I know how to do this, is not only informed by clinical practice, but by being myself first and foremost. My authenticity is my strength, I will never pretend to know something I do not know and will acknowledge when I need to seek out more information for you. In this spirit, I will also always ask for and welcome your feedback throughout our work together to make sure we are tailoring your therapy to your needs. Additionally, I am not the type of therapist that is a "blank canvas." Sessions with me are warm, supportive, and honest.

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

Do you find yourself up late at night with your thoughts going a million miles a minute unable to sleep or relax despite being exhausted? Are you inside the depths of your grief and feeling hopeless? Do you worry about the future, your health, or your next doctor's appointment endlessly? Do you find it hard to go out in public while trying to navigate panic attacks that feel like they come out of nowhere? Perhaps you just really struggle to look in the mirror and accept yourself for who you are. The "shoulds" and "coulds" swirl in your head constantly......you are your own worst critic. Do you constantly take care of everyone else and you've put yourself on the back burner? I enjoy working with adults who are struggling with trauma, chronic illness/cancer, anxiety, or life transitions. My clients are often navigating difficult/ever-changing life events or may even be struggling with the fallout of a traumatizing loss. They often experience bouts of anxiety, depression, or struggle with self-blame and guilt. Many of my clients also feel disconnected or unsafe in their bodies, struggle with self-acceptance or confidence, and want to feel really seen. If you find that any of this is resonating with you, I want you to know that you are not alone and that I believe in holding onto hope for you if cannot right now. Taking the step to reach out for therapy is a courageous and bold choice, it's one that I am so happy you are making! You are worth prioritizing and I know that together we can work out a plan to help you build your sense of resilience despite life's difficulties.

About Lauren Morales