(she/her)
New to Grow
I am Dr. Lawana J. Mabry, LCSW-BACS. I earned my undergraduate degree in Sociology with a concentration in Criminology in 2003 from Louisiana State University. I returned to LSU to obtain my Master of Social Work. I later obtained my Doctor of Behavioral Health degree from Arizona State University. I am a Licensed Mental Health Provider with an array of hands-on clinical experience, which includes, but is not limited to the Department of Children and Family Services (foster care and family services), hospital social work, inpatient psychiatric social work, and school social work. I was also the Clinical Director of an outpatient behavioral health agency with locations throughout the state of Louisiana for five years. For the most recent six years, I have been offering individual psychotherapy, family, and couple counseling to clients in Louisiana and Mississippi via my private practice and contract work. I work with children and families starting at age 5. They value the benefit of my flexible work hours because it decreases the amount of time they have to miss from work and/or school to attend their appointments and remain consistent in treatment. The virtual sessions are also beneficial because clients do not have to fight traffic, have access to transportation, find a sitter for the children, etc. in order to attend therapy. Instead, they have the luxury of attending via their device and at their convenience.
Our initial appointment is what I typically refer to as the “getting to know you phase”. It is when we go through the assessment process. I ask questions to learn what’s bringing clients to therapy and I leave time for my clients to learn a bit about their therapist as well.
One of my greatest skills is active listening. I am very intentional on being empathic and offering a safe space for my clients to talk about things that they feel they may not be able to express in any other setting. This environment is a judge-free zone and focuses on encouraging my clients to release what they have been holding on to for far too long.
I focus on rendering services that are most appropriate for the age group and population I work with. When meeting with clients, I am intentional on identifying which modality, approach, and intervention will be most effective and best received by the clients in an effort to meet their individuals needs. As they continue to progress on their treatment plans, I will continue to adjust the approach.
Other specialties
I identify as
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I am very intentional of meeting my clients where they are and catering the treatment modality specifically to my clients’ individual needs. My experience with the CBT model focuses on helping the client integrate thoughts, feelings, and behaviors into coping skills and interventions that help them reach their intended goals.
Trauma-Focused CBT
I have worked with children, adolescents, as well as adults who have experienced different types of trauma, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, witnessing and/or enduring domestic violence, witnessing suicide and/or murder, the effects of parents who suffered with substance abuse, a loved one who is incarcerated, an absent parent, bullying, divorce, death of a loved one, just to name a few. I take time to help my client process through their pain and grief at their own pace and in their own way.
Couples Counseling
One of the greatest issues within relationship and marriages is healthy communication styles. Although there may be other issues that present themselves as well, such as finances, trust, and infidelity, many times those things are rooted in poor communication. I work with my clients to help them identify the breakdown in communication while also addressing the lingering impacts their ineffective communication has caused the relationship.
Racial trauma treatment
I have worked with people of different backgrounds, races, and ethnic groups. My training in cultural competency and my hands on experience with clients who have personally encountered racial trauma helps guides my therapeutic approaches, while assisting clients to achieve peace and healing.
Grief Therapy
Grief is different for different people. We all process through our grief and loss in individual ways. I offer grief therapy that not only focuses on the 5 Stages of Grief, but also the implementation of interventions that help navigate through the pain in very tangible and relatable manners.