Lauren Groves
I’m a warm, relational therapist with over fifteen years of diverse clinical, nonprofit, and ministry experience. My passion is for providing life-changing care and counseling for adults, teens, children, and families experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, overwhelm, and stress. I offer humble listening, unwavering support, targeted skill-building, and effective therapeutic technique. Across all ages, my approach is trauma-informed, strengths-based, and spiritually-integrated (if desired, certainly not required), and I offer a host of evidence-based treatments to best suit your particular situation and needs. As a Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST) certified therapist, I specialize in integrating principles drawn from the neuroscience research on trauma and structural dissociation theory. TIST offers a treatment approach that integrates mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, ego state techniques, and Internal Family Systems. A simple way to summarize all that is that I specialize in doing “parts work” or "inner child work" with my clients. I’m glad to explore TIST’s application to your current symptoms and situation when we meet. TIST is particularly well suited to treat individuals with chronic depression and/or anxiety, complex PTSD, borderline personality, bipolar disorder, dissociative symptoms, and other patterns of harmful or impulsive behavior. Because TIST contextualizes distressing and self-destructive emotions, thoughts, and behaviors as trauma-related, my clients feel less pathologized, increasing their motivation to overcome difficult symptoms and behaviors as a step toward overcoming trauma. Once folks begin experiencing sustainable periods of relief and stability in their symptoms, triggers, and daily functioning, I offer several different treatments which help with processing trauma (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, EMDR); handling overwhelming emotions, improving relationships, and coping with stress (Dialectical Behavior Therapy, DBT-informed); and changing ineffective patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT). I’m a fan of some good old talk therapy, too, topped off with a healthy dose of humor.
First session
In our first session together, we'll start with brief introductions, then dive into the specific challenges you're facing. This will help me create a tailored plan for us to work through in follow-up sessions.
Strengths
I maintain a select portion of my practice for the youngest among us. Children and tweens are inestimably valuable, as are their families and caregivers. As a Registered Play Therapist, I am trained in and implement several evidence-based models of traditional and play therapy for children and tweens including Child-Centered Play Therapy with a Neurorelational Emphasis (NR-CCPT), TraumaPlay™, Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT), Adlerian Play Therapy (AdPT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). I love using therapeutic stories, props, games, and art in play therapy. Within the foundation of a warm, supportive relationship with your child, we’ll work on establishing safety, enhancing self-esteem, soothing the body and mind, establishing sustainable coping skills, expressing feelings, and developing accurate and effective thoughts. If there’s been a trauma, we may use play-based gradual exposure and trauma narrative work, as well. Therapy with children and tweens will be playful, purposeful, important, and often fun. In work with children and tweens, I take seriously the role of supporting parents and caregivers. When you do well, they do well. I prioritize resourcing you with strategies for connection-building, limit-setting, disciplining, and helping children to regulate their emotions. My work with parents is informed by the brain-based parenting models of Dr. Dan Siegel and Dr. Tina Payne-Bryson (The Whole-Brain Child, No Drama Discipline), Dr. Becky Bailey (Conscious Discipline, I Love You Rituals), and Dr. Mona Delahooke (Brain-Body Parenting, Beyond Behaviors). You'll be empowered to not only reduce your child’s problematic behaviors now but also to connect with and nurture your child into a thriving, capable teen and young adult in the future. Even if you were not parented this way yourself, you can break old cycles, compassionately address your own triggers, learn new skills, and write a new story for your child and family.
Ideal clients
Seasons of suffering and darkness visit all of us, but we do not have to go through them alone or without hope. Perhaps you are feeling anxious, depressed, empty, or disconnected. Maybe disappointments, mistakes, or abuses from the past seem to torment your mind and soul. We are made for connection, and you are wise to seek support. Things may look bleak in this moment, but we can work together to help you build a life worth living. Even when we can’t change things “out there,” we can tend to your inner world, finding soothing for your pain and hope for your future.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT helps clients overcome depression, anxiety, self-doubt, and stress through exploring, identifying, and changing ineffective patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving.
Location
Virtual sessions