Lauresha Hawkins
“In a world full of pressure to be anything but yourself, be a sunflower 🌻—rooted in who you are and always reaching toward the light.” — Lauresha Z. Hawkins, LCSW, MSW, MPH
Despite my kindness, politeness, and well-intentioned nature, I recognize the delicate balance between teaching and modeling appropriate communication.
Hello! I’m Lauresha Hawkins, LCSW, MSW, MPH, Founder/CEO and Clinical Director of Mental Wellness University, Licensed Clinical Social Worker Inc. I am licensed to provide therapy in California and Alaska and serve as an independent provider with Grow Therapy. I support youth, Transitional Age Youth (TAY), adults, mature adults, and families navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, mood disorders, substance use concerns, perinatal mental health, family conflict, sports performance, and major life transitions, including the transition from high school to college. Trust, authenticity, mutual respect, and rapport are central to my work. My approach is eclectic, trauma-informed, collaborative, and individualized because therapy is never one-size-fits-all. I believe treatment should reflect who you are, what you have experienced, what you value, and what you hope to change. I bring more than 15 years of social work experience, including eight years providing mental health services as an associate and licensed clinician. My background includes residential treatment, outpatient care, managed care, foster care systems, and psychiatric hospitals. My communication style is warm, genuine, adaptable, direct, and grounded in active listening, honesty, accountability, and humor when appropriate. I am passionate about serving vulnerable and historically underserved communities, including BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ individuals, student-athletes, and those navigating co-occurring conditions. Although I value my role as an educator, I also remain a lifelong student. I believe every person who crosses my path has something to teach me. Together, we will create a space where you can feel seen, heard, respected, supported, and safely challenged as you continue growing into who you are. www.mentalwellnessuniversityinc.com
First session
During our initial session, you can expect a brief introduction and an opportunity for us to begin getting to know one another. I believe that laughter can be healing, so when appropriate, there may also be moments of humor and levity throughout our work together. The first session will also include a comprehensive clinical assessment to better understand your concerns, current needs, history, strengths, and treatment goals. This information will help guide the development of an individualized treatment plan that is specific to you rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. We will also discuss what you are hoping to gain from therapy and whether we feel that working together will be a good therapeutic fit. I want you to feel comfortable asking questions, expressing concerns, and determining whether my approach aligns with what you need from your therapist.
Strengths
My commitment to authenticity is reflected in every aspect of my practice. I am dedicated to creating a safe, affirming, and supportive environment where clients feel comfortable expressing themselves freely and authentically. I believe therapy is a collaborative process grounded in trust, strengthened through meaningful conversations, and guided by a strong therapeutic relationship. My communication style is warm, engaging, adaptable, and grounded in genuine rapport. I approach each client without judgment and listen actively to ensure they feel seen, heard, and understood. I also recognize the importance of balancing compassion with the teaching and modeling of healthy, effective communication. Although I lead with kindness and respect, I am not a “cookie-cutter” therapist who will simply tell you what you want to hear. My greatest strengths as a clinician are my ability to build rapport, to be honesty, and committed to accountability. I will support you while also respectfully challenging the patterns that may be preventing you from moving forward. My goal is to help you develop the insight, confidence, and practical skills needed to continue growing and thriving long after our work together has ended.
Ideal clients
My ideal client is someone who is ready to better understand themselves, even if they are not yet sure where to begin. They may be navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, OCD, mood changes, life transitions, relationship challenges, identity concerns, or simply feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or stuck. I work especially well with clients who value authenticity, honesty, and mutual respect. Respect is very important to me, and I believe it should be present on both sides of the therapeutic relationship. You do not have to come into therapy with everything figured out, but I do ask that we create a space where we can communicate openly, honor boundaries, and engage with one another in a respectful and meaningful way. My ideal client appreciates a therapist who is warm and supportive, but also direct, accountable, and willing to respectfully challenge them when needed. I enjoy working with individuals who want more than temporary relief and are interested in building practical tools, strengthening boundaries, improving communication, increasing self-awareness, and creating changes that can continue beyond therapy. Most importantly, my ideal client is someone who wants a space where they can be fully themselves. Therapy does not require perfection. It requires honesty, curiosity, mutual respect, and a willingness to grow.
Treatment methods
Eclectic
Having worked in various settings across the behavioral health and healthcare sectors, I understand that one therapeutic approach may not meet every client’s needs. For this reason, I use an eclectic approach to therapy, thoughtfully integrating evidence-based techniques from modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), mindfulness, and trauma-informed care. Eclectic therapy is not a random combination of interventions. It is an intentional and individualized approach that allows me to select, combine, or adjust therapeutic techniques based on each client’s symptoms, goals, strengths, cultural experiences, learning style, and response to treatment. As a client’s needs evolve, the interventions used may also change. This flexibility supports the development of a personalized and effective treatment plan throughout the therapeutic process.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I am certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Late-Life Depression, an evidence-based approach designed to address the emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and life-transition concerns that may affect mature adults. I also incorporate CBT interventions when clinically appropriate with clients across the lifespan. CBT helps clients understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Through this approach, I support clients in identifying unhelpful or inaccurate thinking patterns, examining how those thoughts affect their emotional well-being and daily functioning, and developing more balanced and realistic perspectives. Clients also learn practical coping and problem-solving skills that can support lasting improvements in mood, behavior, and overall quality of life.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I am a certified Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) therapist. DBT balances acceptance with change, helping clients understand and validate their emotions while developing healthier ways to respond to them. Through mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness skills, clients learn to manage emotional distress, improve relationships, communicate more effectively, and make meaningful changes in their lives. Between-session exercises may be assigned to help clients practice these skills in real-life situations. This continued practice supports greater confidence, reinforces progress, and helps clients apply what they learn in therapy to their daily lives.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
I utilize Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients develop greater psychological flexibility—the ability to remain present and take meaningful action even when experiencing difficult thoughts or emotions. Rather than struggling to eliminate every uncomfortable internal experience, clients learn to acknowledge their thoughts and feelings without allowing them to control their choices. Through mindfulness, cognitive defusion, values clarification, acceptance, and committed action, clients identify what matters most to them and begin making choices that align with those values. Between-session exercises may be provided to help clients practice these skills, respond to challenges more effectively, and take realistic steps toward building a meaningful and fulfilling life.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
I utilize Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) to help clients identify their strengths, available resources, and practical solutions to current concerns. While acknowledging the challenges that brought a client to therapy, SFBT places greater emphasis on where the client wants to go, what is already working, and which small changes may create meaningful progress. Through collaborative conversations, goal-setting, scaling questions, and exploration of past successes and exceptions to the problem, clients develop clear and achievable steps toward their preferred future. Between-session exercises may be provided to help clients recognize progress, build upon effective strategies, and apply newly identified solutions in their daily lives.
Location
Virtual sessions
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Licensed in
- CaliforniaLicense 116228