LMFT, 10 years of experience
I am a considerate, direct and an active provider who is committed in assisting my clients to achieve their goals. While many people struggling with mental illness have difficulty opening up in treatment, I work to create an open and collaborative relationship to help understand the obstacles and dynamics being faced. I also work with the client to help build their strengths, attributes and qualities to conquer these challenges to accomplish their goals. I have been working in mental health since 2008, initially as a mental health case manager then later as a substance abuse counselor before graduating from University of Phoenix and becoming a therapist in 2014. I primarily worked in an outpatient community mental health clinic with individuals diagnosed with severe mental illness and substance abuse along with on-call crisis triage from 2008-20 until moving to a federal detention facility for 8 months working with detainees with moderate to severe mental illness. Since 2018, I have been working on various telehealth platforms including Talkspace, Ginger, Modern Health, Rula (Path) Mental Health, Octave and my own group practice Westwind Counseling. Ally with LGBTQ+
In our first session together, we'll start with brief introductions, I'll ask you about your history of mental illness symptoms, family history, and any other pertinent information relevant to what is impacting your daily life. Then we will dive into the specific challenges you're facing. This will help me create a tailored plan for us to work through in follow-up sessions.
I have worked with individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance abuse disorders along with family and couple's therapy.
I enjoy working with adults who are facing challenges in their life whether with interpersonal, occupational, educational, active daily living skills, or physical difficulties. My clients are eager to improve, but don't yet have the tools needed to make this goal a reality. They often feel stuck, overwhelmed and anxious about their careers.
I have been extensively training with CBT to identify to help client understand how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected. Sessions will often focus on your current issues and teaching evidence-based skills to manage difficulties affecting your daily life functioning.
When clients have experienced traumatic situations, the use of CPT will help guide the client to identify "stuck points" through written assignments and in-session conversations, using techniques like open-ended questioning. CPT will focus on gradually building new, more balanced beliefs to improve daily functioning, with a potential for emotional intensity as the client confronts painful memories related to trauma.
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing therapy will help guide clients through an eight-phase approach, starting with history-taking and preparation, then moving to the desensitization of specific memories, and finally to the installation of positive beliefs.
Using methods of problem-solving with future-oriented approach that helps clients identify and build on their strengths to achieve goals quickly, rather than dwelling on past problems
2 ratings with written reviews
April 29, 2025
Laura always listens and doesn't judge when i bring her a problem or action I have taken. She is encouraging, empowering, compassionate, humorous, and relatable. I always leave sessions feeling better than when I entered them. She makes my problems seem easier to deal with as she helps me come to my own conclusions and helps me find solutions that would work for my specific situation. I would recommend Laura to any of my friends in a heartbeat.
January 28, 2025
Good first talk