New to Grow
Hi there! My name is Lara Manoukian, and I am eager to start working with you! I find a great sense of purpose and fulfillment in being a Marriage and Family Therapist, and I always hope that the therapeutic relationship I have with my clients promotes healing, connection, and empowerment. I utilize a wide variety of interventions to meet my client where they're at and take things at their pace. My goal as a therapist is to be a mirror for my client, reflect their goals back to them, and connect the dots alongside them. I will never pretend like I know more about your life than you do, but I will help you uncover habits, beliefs, and feelings that are not aligned with who you want to be. I believe it takes internal bravery and external support to examine the parts of ourselves that are much easier to ignore. My ultimate goal is for our therapeutic space to be a place where you can feel safe to question, challenge, and redesign your life into something that is authentic to who you are. Through my use of different evidence-based practices and genuine empathy, I truly believe we can get you where you want to be.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
I totally get it, the idea of therapy can be scary and overwhelming! I'm here to put your mind at ease! The goal of our first session is to see if we're a good fit to work with each other. I always say that finding the right therapist is just as hard, maybe even harder, than dating! I will ask you questions about yourself, your history, your present challenges, and your future goals. You won't have to share anything you don't feel comfortable with, but I do encourage you to be vulnerable. I also encourage you to come to the first session with your own questions for me and my style as a therapist.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
As your therapist, I have the ability to make you feel as if we have known each other for years upon our first meeting. This is a result of my genuine empathy, curiosity, and unconditional positive regard towards who you are as a person. I truly believe that the therapeutic relationship in and of itself is healing, and that is where my work begins. Our therapy space will hopefully create a sense of safety (and bravery) to open up old wounds and uncomfortable feelings in order to grow from them. The result of this is a more confident, affirmed, and authentic client.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
The best client is one who is committed to changing their life. If you are someone who feels anxious often, is ready to make changes to their life, or just needs a place to process your current life circumstances, I'm your gal! I find that the clients that stick with me the longest are the ones who need encouragement in making major decisions, are in the middle of big changes in their life, or are in need of support to feel empowered to move forward with their life.
Christian Counseling
I provide Christian counseling to those who are seeking help and guidance with their current challenges through a Biblical perspective.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I have been using CBT interventions to help clients challenge their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. I use worksheets and assign homework to keep clients accountable with the goals they want to reach.
Narrative
I like to understand a client's life through the lens of a story and help each person regain authorship of their life's story. I also encourage clients to de-identify with their current challenges and create an identity that is more authentic to who they are.
Psychodynamic
I utilize psychodynamic methods to understand how our past experiences are impacting our current worldview. I work towards understanding the client's personal and familial history to better grasp what unhelpful beliefs might be present.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
I utilize solution-focused techniques and interventions to encourage and empower clients to find the answers to their present problems on their own in a way that works with their lifestyle.