Rated 5.0 stars out of 5, 39 ratings

Lainie Popp

LCSW, 6 years of experience

Warm
Authentic
Empowering
Virtual
Next available on

Hi, I’m Lainie. I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and I help clients recover from the effects of traumatic experiences, PTSD, and emotionally confusing or one sided relationships. I am trained in EMDR and also draw from mindfulness and parts work to help you reach your goals in therapy and find more freedom and ease in your life. My approach is warm and down to earth, and collaborative.

Get to know me

In our first session together, here's what you can expect

In our first session, we'll spend time getting to know each other and talking about what brings you to therapy at this particular time. There’s no pressure to say more than you feel ready to share. My priority is creating a safe, welcoming environment where your experiences are validated, and your questions are honored without any judgment or need to get it "right".

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

Living through my own personal struggles and finding growth and healing has shaped the way I show up as a therapist. It informs the way I listen and the genuine care I offer. I know that change is possible, and I also know how powerful it can be to have the right person walking alongside you during a really challenging or painful time.

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

Many of my clients come to therapy feeling stuck in old patterns, overwhelmed by anxiety or depression, or unsure of how to trust themselves in relationships. You may be experiencing intense emotional reactions to triggers that feel out of control and are limiting in some way.

Rated 5.0 stars out of 5, 39 ratings

4 ratings with written reviews

July 9, 2025

This was my first session and I immediately felt comfortable to open up and share. I immediacy felt heard and received with kindness.

Verified client, age 25-34

Review shared after session 1 with Lainie

June 30, 2025

Lainie is a wonderful listener. I felt she was very present, heard what I was saying, asked questions about what I was experiencing and what I wanted to move forward with. Thank you

Verified client, age 35-44

Review shared after session 1 with Lainie

May 6, 2025

Lainie is extremely understanding and uplifting at every turn. Only therapist I have ever felt understood me, after years of trying therapy.

Verified client, age 25-34

Review shared after session 9 with Lainie

About Lainie Popp

Address

1332 Anacapa St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Appointments

Virtual & in-person

My treatment methods

Trauma Informed Care

I take a trauma-informed approach to therapy, recognizing how past experiences shape emotions, relationships, and coping patterns. I believe healing isn’t always about changing or fixing—it’s about letting go of what no longer serves you and reconnecting with your most authentic self. My role is to walk alongside you in this process, helping you recognize your own strength, wisdom, and capacity for growth so that you can move forward with a greater sense of trust in yourself.

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

I use CBT in a flexible, integrated way—drawing on its core ideas to help clients notice patterns in their thoughts, behaviors, and emotions, but not in a rigid or manualized format. I don’t follow it by the book or assign standard homework; instead, I weave it in along with other approaches based on what you need and your goals for therapy.

Supportive

My approach is centered on meeting you where you are, offering guidance, reflection, and practical tools without pressure or judgment.

Internal Family Systems (IFS)

I often draw from Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help you explore the different “parts” of yourself that may have conflicting needs or beliefs. This perspective is especially useful if if you’re feeling pulled in opposite directions or if your emotions feel confusing or complicated.

EMDR

I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), an evidence-based therapy that helps process distressing experiences and reduce the emotional intensity of past trauma.