I am a Licensed Professional Counselor for the state of Missouri, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor for the State of Kansas, a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Minnesota, and a Professional Counselor of Mental Health for the State of Delaware. I am a National Certified Counselor with the National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. I have been working with clients in outpatient settings since 2011. Typical concerns that I have experience with are anxiety and/or mild depression, relationship issues, supporting people through separation and divorce, grief and loss, parenting, stress management, PTSD, and support for faith/spiritual life. I find Cognitive Behavioral Therapy quite useful and effective, so I tend to use that whenever it seems fitting. I do my best to make sure that I ascertain what approach works best with each client. I want to be flexible and sensitive to your needs and personality. I believe that if you feel safe with me and that you can trust me, that's the most important aspect of working together. I look forward to working with you!
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In our first session, I will go over the intake with you, making sure I have a good understanding of what you're looking for in the counseling process. I will make sure you understand the limits of confidentiality and ask you what your expectations are. I will also want to know if you've had past experience with therapy and how that went for you. We can then start discussing your goals and needs and what sorts of things we might do together to help you meet them.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I am a good listener, first and foremost. I want to understand your concerns and figure out the best ways to help you that you will be able to relate to and embrace. I will try hard to establish trust and rapport with you, and then I will encourage you along the way as we work together. I truly care about my clients and want the very best for them. I want them to leave therapy feeling that they were heard, valued, cared about, and helped.
About Laurie Sansom
Specializes in
Serves ages
Accepts
Appointments
VirtualMy treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I have used CBT the most with clients and find it to be very effective. I help clients identify unhelpful thinking and reframe their thinking so that it produces the growth and change they are looking for.
Christian Counseling
I have done a lot of work seeing clients in a church-based counseling clinic and also as a referral source from a church. I use faith-based counseling as an addition to CBT and only to the extent that the client is interested in it.
Gottman method
Although I no longer work with couples, I have a lot of experience using Gottman materials/principles in working with couples in the past and working with individuals who have relationship challenges.
Grief Therapy
I have a lot of experience volunteer counseling/support at a center for grief and loss, working with groups such as suicide loss and child loss, as well as volunteer counseling at a pregnancy and infant loss center.