Trauma Focused Therapists in Highland Park, CA

You may've wondered why you couldn't just be happier, more confident, or less anxious. Perhaps you find yourself heartbroken or sense that your relationship is in trouble. You may feel stuck in a career or project with little motivation to move forward. Maybe you're struggling to handle painful emotions or a traumatic past. If left unaddressed, these difficulties may lead to depression, anxiety, or a host of relationship issues that can stop you from creating the life you want.

Pregnancy-Postpartum-Early Parenthood- I specialize in helping women/birthing people who are struggling with mood and anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum. Common issues I treat include trauma/PTSD, painful childhood experiences; depression & anxiety during pregnancy/postpartum; traumatic childbirth, reproductive trauma (infertility, TFMR, miscarriage, stillbirth, infant death), pregnancy after loss and pandemic related traumas. Whether you're having difficulty adjusting to a whole new identity as a mom/parent, feeling traumatized by your birth experience, or needing to heal from a loss, perinatal therapy can help.

Drawing from a ton of life experiences, I approach my work from a place of kindness and empathy. I am direct. I hear you and hope to guide you on a journey towards a better relationship, whether it's with yourself, your family, or your partner. With extensive experience working with adults, couples, teens, LGBTQ+, I find immense joy in helping people discover self-awareness, authenticity, negativity, and personal empowerment. Plus, my background in the entertainment industry brings a humor that might make you laugh rather then feel like a guillotine. I prioritize a trauma-informed approach and use evidence-based treatments.

You feel anxious, stuck, and often made to feel out of control by your own thoughts and fears. Whether you have OCD, are struggling with perinatal or postpartum issues, are in transition, or have a history of trauma, you are tired of letting your fears and doubts run your life and relationships. You're discouraged from continuing toward your dreams. You want nothing more than to feel confident in yourself and live a life aligned with your values, but you are not sure where to start or worry about finding someone who will actually hear you. You've come to the right place, I'm here to work collaboratively with you and really listen.

A native Angeleno, Laura believes that healing emerges through intentional everyday practices that transform into rituals of self-care. Using an intersectional and strength-based framework Laura approaches therapy as a collaborative process to navigate the complexities of the individual lived experience and interpersonal relationships. She supports and identifies the strengths and internal resources clients are inherently born with and promotes the connection to self and community. She has been successful in helping professionals, artists, and creative individuals to create healthier relationships with their inner and outer worlds.

Are past traumatic experiences, being an adult child of a dysfunctional home, incest survival experiences, addiction issues, phobia, panic, anxiety, C-PTSD or depression affecting your success? Are distractions impacting your optimal performance abilities at work, in your intimate relationships, or in relationships with family members or with yourself? Are you surviving instead of thriving? I provide accelerated psychotherapy for individuals and couples who are challenged by performance loss and emotional unhappiness. Also offer Diagnosis evaluation for addiction, mood, personality, and adult Autism spectrum. HSP and Kink friendly.

Let's just put it out there: Livin’ ain’t easy! You’re dealing with the pressures of high performance, anxieties of what others think, the injustice of /phobias and /isms, fears of failure, and paralysis in starting that project/hobby/career you always dreamed of. You’re feeling flat in your relationships and wondering, Is this it? These things are all part of what it means to exist and be human. The thing is, we can’t navigate them alone. As relational beings, we need compassionate guidance to see us through the other side of possibility. Despite rugged individualism, it's actually brave of you to be here. Welcome.

If you've become lost amongst obstacles on your journey, I'd like to help guide you to more happiness by offering suggestions, uncovering unwanted patterns, and leading you from the past to the present in order to heal and evolve, enhancing your happiness. Through changes in perceptions/attitudes and being willing to see situations with a new pair of glasses, you can reach your goals and evolve. My clients report that they enjoy my down-to-earth attitude and humor and my use of Somatic Experiencing, EMDR, TRM, meditation and yoga to treat mind-body symptoms. I work best with clients who are motivated to gain self-awareness and see patterns that are no longer serving them. I give homework between sessions in order to keep the continuity of healing working consistently. I feel very blessed to be working in a field that serves people who are finding their best selves and evolving into the people they want to be.

Are you concerned about a child or adolescent that is struggling? Are they shutting down and sad? Worried or mad? Are they having trouble functioning at school or with friends? How about at home and with their family? Has something in their life changed? Maybe they need a little more support at this particular time... Therapy can help. I work with individuals of all ages, couples, and families.

Everyone goes through challenging situations in life & while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you've faced, there's nothing wrong with seeking out extra support. Therapy can be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, marriage issues, & the hassles of daily life. While we can't change difficult situations of the past, we can work together to better understand and resolve challenges in your life. By applying a variety of therapeutic approaches we can explore long-standing behavior patterns or negative perceptions that may be holding you back from experiencing a more fulfilling & meaningful life.

I help professionals in film/TV, academia, design, & corporate heal from trauma. You may excel in some areas while quietly suffering anxiety, depression (stuck/lost), and relationship pain. A past with abuse/neglect, emotional disconnect can result in a mix of both thriving and overactive survival instincts. I provide a warm judgment-free space, strict confidentiality, modern research-based techniques, and 25 years of mental health experience. I offer EMDR, IFS (parts work), Somatic Experiencing, and psychedelic therapy. I also specialize in work with the ASD (autism), DID/DDNOS, & LGBTQ+ communities.

Now accepting new clients. Do you work around daily feelings of depression and anxiety? Have you self-diagnosed your symptoms and tried your best to do all the things that are suppose to help? If so, therapy is your next step. Getting someone on your team, like a therapist, to help you sort and solve what is happening inside can make a significant difference. If you've never had therapy before your in for a treat. It's all about YOU for an hour every week. Your thoughts, your feelings and your needs will be held in a kind and gentle atmosphere, allowing you to relax and open to new healing possibilities.

So much can get in the way of our ability to receive and give love in healthy relationships. I enjoy working with people who are seeking healing from past wounds so that they can love themselves and others. I help people develop self-confidence and self-awareness that promotes creativity and deeper connectedness. If you’ve experienced trauma or if you struggle with negative beliefs about yourself, EMDR may be a helpful resource and is a specialty of mine. I am also certified as a Safe and Sound Protocol provider, which helps people experience a felt sense of safety and calm.

I am a narrative-trained drama therapist who is person-centered in approach. I facilitate individuals, families, and groups in corporate or educational settings. We will work together to re-author problem saturated life narratives as you explore expressive therapies in sessions as a means toward an embodied, cognitive, safe, creative experience. Restoring the whole person is the goal. My expertise has been on self-identity, foster care, adoption, rehab, adolescence, anxiety, trauma, multiculturalism & social skills. Talk, discovery, and recovery through rapport from a drama therapy and a positive psychology foundation nurture you.

In my experience, psychotherapy can be a home for the doubts, questions, and dreams that may otherwise be relegated to the shadows. I see my role as an empathic companion as a well as an active guide who creates a safe base from which to walk on paths less trodden. The people that I work with often start this process with the sense that something is "off" or the fear that they are either "too much" or "not enough." And along the way, they gain clarity and compassion.

You’ve worked hard and have come a long way. On the outside everything seems fine, but on the inside there’s the tension, the worry, and the overthinking. You want to feel solid, more calm, better able to let go of patterns that no longer serve you. You’re not sure where to start, but what you do know is that something has to change. Therapy can help. Let’s talk. Communities I serve include creatives, LGBTQI folks, BIPOC, and adults from multicultural backgrounds.

Welcome! I'm Lauren, and I'm looking forward to meeting you. The clients I see come to me for a variety of reasons. Some are having trouble adapting to a change or transition in thier life. Others are seeking to increase motivation or gain insight into patterns they would like to change. I've helped clients navigate tough relationship issues, develop better self confidence, and improve thier feeling of purpose during difficult times. I utilize an eclectic approach, incorporating cognitive behavioral, narrative and person centered therapy in order to help my clients feel better able to cope with what life throws at them.

Do you feel like you aren't operating at your full potential? Do you experience thoughts and feelings that interfere with your life balance? Although there are many reasons one seeks therapy, it is often our desire to feel connection, contentment and happiness. We all have unique stories that have shaped us. I would like to work with you to discover all that has led you to your current situation. To guide and assist you in a journey that will allow you to operate from a place of acceptance, compassion, and understanding for self and others.

I strongly believe in the healing power of a safe therapeutic space and human connection to build resilience and foster a more fulfilling life. I strive to co-create a safe space that is warm, collaborative, and empathic so that, together, we can process and integrate past or current traumatic or disruptive experiences, and explore questions of identity, self-concept, and interpersonal relationships. My client-centered, trauma-informed, and integrative approach lends itself to meeting my clients where they are at and walking alongside you as you uncover the strengths and tools within to face life’s challenges.