Hi there, I'm Laurie! Do you wish providers would look at you through a whole person lens instead of discussing health and mental health separately? Do you want a provider for your child who is playful and skilled at engaging children? Are you an adult who likes a more personal, connected approach to therapy? Do you have a teen who has had difficulty connecting to other providers? Well look no further! I enjoy using storytelling, videos, and conversation to help clients of all ages improve self-esteem, self-worth and gain a better understanding of sense of self. A licensed clinical social worker and board-certified supervisor with over 25 years of experience working with children, teens, and adults, I spent much of that time working for the world-renowned Kennedy Krieger Institute, a Johns Hopkins affiliate, where I was also in leadership. I have post-graduate certificates in Treating Children & Adolescents, Leadership, Fitness Nutrition, and Integrative Medicine for Mental Health providers. More personally, I love hiking, watching Marvel movies, lifting weights, and crowd surfing at concerts. I believe we should never stop playing like children!
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
I prefer our first session to be fairly conversational, so I ask clients to fill out all intake questions prior to the session. I enjoy spending time building rapport and trust, without having to ask quite so many questions:)
What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?
Over the years, I've had clients with many different diagnoses, including Depression, ADHD, PTSD/trauma, OCD, eating disorders, Anxiety, chronic pain, and more. I have extensive training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), attachment/parent child relationships, trauma, Mindfulness, Play therapy, Dialectical Behavioral, Acceptance and Commitment, Trauma-Focused CBT, Emotional Freedom Techniques, and EMDR (as well as others).
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
My biggest strength is my ability to see my clients' strengths and help them expand upon them in meaningful ways. I am friendly, energetic, and love meeting new people. Making clients feel comfortable and accepted in sessions is very important to me. If it's your first time or your child/teen's first time in therapy, it's also important to me that it be a positive experience, and I work hard to ensure this!