Licensed to practice in California and accepts 47 insurances. Specializes in Anxiety, Couples Counseling, Self Esteem and 6 more.
Hi there! My name is Laura, and it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m a marriage and family therapist based in California. I’ve been practicing for over a decade now and earned my master’s degree from St. Mary’s College in Moraga, California. Taking the first step towards improving your mental health is the most empowering thing you can do for yourself. Counseling may seem intimidating at first, but it’s an incredibly rewarding experience. I create a safe and welcoming space where you can explore your concerns about anxiety, depression, and self-care. My goal is to help you develop assertive communication and boundaries with yourself and others, which can significantly improve your quality of life. Counseling can be a powerful tool for personal growth and help you build the life you truly deserve. If that’s what you’re looking for, I’m here to support you whenever you’re ready to share.
Your first session will be a warm and inviting atmosphere with introductions. Then, we’ll bring you into therapy, which will help me create a tailored plan for our follow-up sessions. For teens, I usually start by having a parent in the room. They share what they love about their child, which helps the teen feel more at ease. I also have some squishy toys for them to play with while the parent talks to me. After that, the teen gets to decide if they want their parent to stay in the room or go wait in the waiting room. Once the teen is comfortable, I focus on getting to know them better. I ask them about their favorite foods, activities, and passions. I also ask what brought them to counseling. Depending on how comfortable they feel, we either talk more or I bring out some therapeutic games to play.
My greatest strength lies in my kindness and compassion, which I demonstrate by creating a comfortable and supportive environment where you feel heard and understood. I actively collaborate with you to develop a trusting and open relationship, which is essential for initiating positive change in the therapeutic process.
Working with adolescents brings me immense joy, as they face various challenges such as social anxiety, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, body image issues, and the pressure to conform. I’m passionate about creating a safe, non-judgmental, and understanding space where they feel heard and can address their struggles. By providing them with positive and healthy coping mechanisms, I aim to empower them to grow and flourish. Furthermore, I have a deep sense of empathy for assisting individuals in confronting and managing their current life circumstances. Additionally, I find great fulfillment in working with couples. Marriage can be challenging, and couples may find themselves trapped in negative patterns without realizing how to break free. In such cases, I support couples in rebuilding their marriages by equipping them with the necessary tools, such as effective communication. This fosters a deeper understanding between partners and enables them to express their needs and desires within the marriage.
Other specialties
I identify as
Cash - $175 per session
Aetna
Aetna - Allied Benefits
Aetna - ASR Health Benefits
Aetna - Luminare
Aetna - Moda
Aetna - WebTPA
Aetna – HealthEZ
All Savers
Amerihealth Administrators
Anthem
Arlo
AvMed
Blue Cross
Blue Shield
Carelon Behavioral Health (Commercial)
Centivo
Cigna
Cigna - HealthEZ
EAP:Cigna
EAP:Evernorth
EAP:UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Evernorth
Golden Rule
GTEB
Harvard Pilgrim/UnitedHealthcare
Health Net (Commercial)
IHSS Healthy Workers
Independence Administrators
Independence Blue Cross
L.A. Care Covered
L.A. Care Covered Direct
L.A. Care PASC-SEIU
Optum
OptumHealth Complex Medical Conditions
Oscar
Oxford
Scripps Health Plan
Sharp Health Plan
Surest (formerly Bind)
Sutter Health Plan
Tufts Health/Cigna
United Medical Resources
UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance
UnitedHealthcare Shared Services
UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) posits that our thought processes significantly influence our emotions and behaviors. Through the cognitive model, individuals gain the ability to identify their recurring thought patterns, emotions, and behaviors. By becoming aware of irrational thought patterns, individuals can effectively modify and change them, leading to more positive and effective emotional and behavioral responses.
Couples Counseling
I assist couples in restoring their marriages by providing them with the appropriate tools, particularly effective communication techniques to foster comprehension of their spouse’s perspective and ensure that their needs and desires within the marriage are adequately addressed.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
DBT focuses on developing four essential skills: mindfulness, acceptance and distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Through a structured series of lessons, you will gain practical experience in applying these skills to your daily life, ultimately fostering a fulfilling and purposeful existence.
4 ratings with written reviews
April 7, 2026
I chose Laura for the fields she covers. After speaking with her, I appreciate her ability to listen and let me speak. I felt comfortable speaking with her and I appreciate her ability to listen without judgment. I look forward to meeting with her again and going deeper into addressing my issues.
September 9, 2025
We feel hopeful. We appreciate that Laura wants to provide tools to help us better our communication and understanding of one another.
September 5, 2025
I had my first session w/Laura and enjoyed it so much I made another appointment. I really feel like I am taking my first steps to better myself physically and also mentally!