About Laura

The challenges I’ve faced have brought me here and helped me develop a deep understanding of emotions and how pain can keep us from moving forward—but working through it is so worth it in the end.

When my kids were in high school, many of their friends were struggling (whether dealing with addiction or difficult family situations); I wanted to help and that led me to go back to earn my Masters degree.

My undergraduate degree—Interior Design—is surprisingly similar to therapy! I met with clients to determine their needs, establish what was not working, and identify what they wanted to improve in function or aesthetic. I collected information and developed a “diagnosis” and treatment plan which was implemented to bring about the changes they needed.

It is not a big shift from the way we address needs in therapy and implement tools to bring about the desired changes!

I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE THE INNER WISDOM NEEDED TO REACH OUR HIGHER POTENTIAL

I work with you as the whole person, body, mind, spirit—in the context of individual experience, family, and community, and culture.

You are the expert of your own experience. I facilitate the process of change to help and support you to meet your needs more effectively. We’ve all experienced trauma of one kind or another, though these experiences aren’t always recognized as trauma. Clients may withdraw or use substances as a response to trauma, experiencing addiction, depression or anxiety, as a coping mechanism.

Through collaborative work with varied theoretical approaches, I meet you where you are, develop goals and work through the process of small steps to make changes that shift the outcomes.

I use mainly evidence-based therapies, with a focus on CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy), Motivational Interviewing, CBT, family systems and non-violent communication tools. I also work with hypnotherapy, archetypal and dreamwork as modalities to access subconscious information.

I utilize the Gottman therapy model of couples counseling.

“You cannot keep abandoning yourself for the comfort of others and expect to walk in alignment with your purpose.”

EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS

Educational Background

Masters of Counseling Psychology, St. Martin’s University 2010.

STATE LICENSES:

WA DOH LH 60827821 / 2024, CP 60215398 / 2024

Certifications:

Dually licensed LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor) and SUDP (Substance Use Disorder Professional)
Masters level Clinician
Washington Mental Health Counselors Association
Gottman Trained Couples Counselor
Trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT for PTSD), DBT, Motivational Interviewing, Personal Mythology, Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy