LCSW, 13 years of experience
New to Grow
My name is Laurie Kaufmann and I am a licensed clinical social worker based in North Carolina. I received my Masters degree from Adelphi University in NY and have been practicing for 12 years now. I enjoy working with adolescents and adults and worked in a residential treatment facility for teen girls on Long Island for 22 years. I enjoy helping my clients look back on the family history that shapes them and learn ways to live in the present and successfully move forward. I work on helping my clients develop coping skills, think positively, change negative cognitions into more positive ways of thinking and bolstering self-esteem. I want to help a glass half-empty thinker to see that glass as half-full, or as full as we can make it.
In our first session together, we will work on establishing rapport and seeing what past/current events in your life have drawn you to seek therapy. I use a very easygoing, conversational style and hope to help you feel very comfortable, as if you are speaking with a helpful friend/confidante. I will answer any questions that you have about my style of therapy and we will make sure that we will be a good match for each other. After gaining some more background about what you are looking for, together we’ll explore your goals and begin identifying practical steps to move forward in future sessions.
I bring a great deal of empathy and understanding into my sessions, but know that I will not try to “solve” your problems, but assist you to see them more clearly and create your own ways to solve them. I am non-judgmental, patient and easy-going, creating a safe space where you can feel heard and understood. I am friendly, caring and optimistic. I believe that we all have the capacity for change, and I will always be open and honest with you, in order to help you achieve your goals.
I enjoy working with adolescents and adults of all ages. I especially like grief counseling and assisting clients with working through their grief. I am here to assist you to achieve peace and clarity in your life. I will listen to your concerns and provide helpful feedback to help guide you to your own conclusions and how best to make changes to achieve your best life.
I’ve been using CBT in my practice for the past 13 years. I use CBT as a way to further empower clients to transform the way they perceive and interact with their world. At its core, CBT is rooted in the understanding that our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are intricately connected. These skills help us identify and challenge distorted or unhelpful thinking patterns and guide us towards healthier emotional responses and more constructive actions. Using this approach also offers practical tools to address immediate struggles, such as anxiety or depression, but also fosters long-term resilience by encouraging a deeper awareness of internal dialogue.
Mindfulness invites you to step out of the autopilot mode that often drives stress, anxiety, and emotional reactivity. It helps you develop a more intentional, compassionate relationship with your inner experiences. By helping clients become more attuned to the present without judgment, mindfulness fosters emotional clarity, reducing the power of negative thoughts and enhances self-regulation. It is especially valuable for clients who feel trapped in cycles of worry or rumination since it provides a space to observe experiences with curiosity rather than through a critical lens.
I often use Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), which is a goal-oriented approach that focuses on your strengths and the solutions that can help you move forward. Rather than concentrating heavily on the problems, we’ll work together to identify what’s already working well in your life and explore practical steps to create positive change. This approach is particularly effective when you’re seeking immediate progress or navigating specific challenges. By highlighting your resilience and exploring future possibilities, we can develop achievable goals and build on your existing strengths.