About

About Lauren

I am an Arizona native living in Portland. I completed my Master's in Counseling at Lewis & Clark College with a focus on LGBTQIA studies. I use DBT, ACT, Gestalt and somatic and existential modalities in my practice, and have worked with a wide variety of issues including anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, autism spectrum disorder, ADD/ADHD, borderline personality disorder, chronic pain, and grief and loss.

Counseling Style

So often trauma occurs in the context of relationships, which would imply that the same goes for healing. I have a passion for helping folks who have experienced trauma and/or difficult childhood experiences to heal, reconnect to a sense of safety within themselves, and find the freedom to pursue a meaningful life. I emphasize the role of the therapeutic relationship in our work. I am committed to providing a relationship with warmth, compassion, and trust at its core. I strive to provide folks with a space to be heard, respected, and empowered.

Values

Equity & Empowerment

I believe in the incredible healing power of embracing and celebrating each client’s intersecting identities. I strive to provide equitable and empowering care for folks who have experienced oppression. I celebrate the diversity of identities and experiences that exist in our community, and advocate for supporting a climate of increased resources for those who have experienced high degrees of trauma. 

Honoring the Self

I honor that each client is the expert and author of their own story. I believe that each person possesses their own intuitive wisdom that points to their unique path to healing

Giving Back

Those who have been most traumatized are often the ones most in need of additional support. I strive to use my resources to offer limited scholarships for community members in need.

Treating the Whole Person

I know that trauma impacts not only the mind, but the body, spirit, and our ability to form meaningful connections to others. I believe that healing is a truly holistic process that needs to be pursued through multiple treatment approaches including but not limited to: mental health counseling, body work, medicine, social connection, and spirituality. 

Community Building

I'm committed to partnerships with community members who support other forms of health as a means of building a network for our clients to access trauma informed health care at every opportunity.