My name is Lauren (pronouns. she/her/hers). I am a licensed professional counselor in Virginia and I am passionate about helping LGBTQIA+ adolescents, adults and their loved ones navigate through life transitions. The majority of my practice focuses on topics related to coming out, trauma, transitioning, donor conception (DCP and family of DCP), religious trauma/spiritual abuse, queer family-building, grief/loss/shame and family support or lack thereof. My approach is client-centered, culturally sensitive and collaborative as I partner with individuals in the creation of their narratives.

As a LGBTQ identified therapist I am familiar with navigating intersections between race, sexual orientation, gender identity, class, etc. In my spare time I enjoy hiking, visiting local wineries and spending precious time with my wife and two children.

Theoretically speaking, my first love is Narrative Therapy. I believe that each individual is the expert on their own life and that most problems originate from the outside. I believe that processing and re-writing the scripts that we’ve adopted is a powerful pathway to healing. My therapeutic leaning is non-pathologizing, attachment-oriented, and trauma-informed and my style is warm and open.

I earned a BA in English, minor in Psychology, from Gardner-Webb University (2009), an MA in Womens Studies Gender Studies from Loyola University Chicago (2011) and an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (2019). I have extensive training in the area of trauma recovery and LGBTQIA+ issues. Most recently I was published in Lee, Courtland (Ed.). (2018) Counseling for Social Justice. 

In my 13+ years of experience in the mental health field, I have worked with LGBTQIA+ populations, individuals in trauma recovery, community mental health teams, housing programs, and many more. I have worked with children as young as 5 years old through older adults in their 70’s. I have traveled both nationally and abroad presenting on topics related to counseling LGBTQIA+ individuals, LGBTQIA+ identity formations and diversity issues.

I provide LGBTQ+ inclusion and competency trainings to the local and statewide community through the Alexandria LGBTQ+ Task Force. I a member Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Identities (SAIGE) and the American Counseling Association (ACA). I obtained full licensure in 2022.