Lauren McKay
I’m a counselor who believes meaningful change begins with feeling understood—and with developing a deeper understanding of yourself. I work with adults navigating anxiety, depression, ADHD and neurodivergence, relationship concerns, grief, chronic illness, burnout, and major life transitions.
My role is to walk alongside you with compassion and curiosity as you navigate life’s challenges—whether that’s anxiety, depression, ADHD or neurodivergence, relationship struggles, grief, or major transitions.
My approach is warm, collaborative, and practical, blending insight-oriented work with evidence-based tools to help you better understand your patterns, build self-compassion, and make changes that feel authentic and sustainable. Therapy with me isn’t about telling you who to be; it’s about helping you develop greater insight, trust yourself, and move forward with more clarity and agency.
First session
Our first session is all about getting to know each other and laying the foundation for our work together. I’ll invite you to share what brings you to counseling, and we’ll talk about your history, current life, and the challenges you’d like support with. This helps me understand your unique experiences and how they’re affecting you today. We’ll also begin to identify your goals—what you hope to gain from therapy and the changes you’d like to see in your life. Think of this session as a collaborative conversation rather than an interview; you set the pace, and there’s no pressure to share more than you feel comfortable with. By the end, we’ll have a clearer picture of where you’d like to go and how we can work together to get there.
Strengths
I bring warmth, curiosity, and a strong ability to notice patterns and make connections that may be difficult to see when you’re in the middle of them. I balance validation and self-compassion with practical tools, honest feedback, and gentle challenge when it can help you move forward. My style is collaborative rather than prescriptive—I want you to understand yourself more deeply and develop greater trust in your own judgment, not become dependent on mine. I’m comfortable sitting with complexity, whether we’re working with long-standing relational patterns, neurodivergence, grief, chronic stress, or a difficult life transition. Above all, I want therapy to be a place where you can be fully human while also doing meaningful work toward change..
Ideal clients
I am best positioned to support adults and young adults who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected from themselves or others. Many of my clients are navigating anxiety, depression, ADHD or other forms of neurodivergence, relationship or family challenges, life transitions, grief and loss, or struggles with self-esteem and identity. I also work with clients managing mood and thought disorders, including bipolar disorder. I especially enjoy working with professionals in high-demand fields—such as healthcare, first responders, aviation, legal, military, corporate leadership, supply chain, and logistics—who are balancing intense responsibilities while trying to care for their own well-being. My clients are often motivated to create change but need support, strategies, and a safe, compassionate space to begin.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in my work to help you understand the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Together, we identify unhelpful patterns of thinking that may contribute to stress, anxiety, or low mood, and we practice new ways of approaching situations that foster resilience and well-being. CBT is collaborative and practical—it offers tools you can apply in everyday life, such as challenging negative self-talk, developing healthier coping strategies, and making small, meaningful changes that lead to lasting growth.
Cognitive Processing (CPT)
I use Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) to support you in healing from the impact of trauma. CPT is an evidence-based approach that helps you understand how traumatic experiences may shape the way you see yourself, others, and the world. Together, we gently explore the beliefs that may keep you feeling stuck—such as self-blame, guilt, or fear—and work toward reshaping them in a way that supports healing and growth. Through this process, you can reduce distressing symptoms, regain a sense of safety and control, and reconnect with the parts of life that feel meaningful to you.
Family Therapy
Even when I’m working with individual clients, I often use a family therapy lens. This means we explore not only your personal experiences but also the relationships, family patterns, and systems that have shaped your life. Understanding these dynamics can provide valuable insight into current challenges and open the door to new ways of relating to yourself and others. By looking at both the individual and relational context, we can identify patterns that no longer serve you, strengthen supportive connections, and create healthier ways of moving forward.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I integrate Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help you build practical skills for managing emotions, improving relationships, and navigating life’s challenges. DBT combines acceptance and change: I support you in understanding and validating your experiences while also helping you learn new ways to cope and grow. Together, we focus on skills such as mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and effective communication. These tools can reduce overwhelm, increase confidence, and create a greater sense of balance in daily life.
Strength-Based
I take a strengths-based approach, which means I focus on the abilities, values, and resources you already have. Rather than seeing you only through the lens of challenges or symptoms, I work with you to uncover moments of resilience, highlight your unique strengths, and build on what has helped you in the past. Together, we use these qualities as stepping stones toward your goals. This approach creates a collaborative, empowering, and hopeful space where change feels possible and sustainable.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
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Serves
Licensed in
- KentuckyLicense 275168