Hi, I am Lauren
MA LLPC
I believe healing happens when people feel safe, seen, and accepted. My approach to therapy is warm, attentive, and honest, and I strive to create a space where clients can explore their experiences with curiosity and compassion. I work collaboratively with individuals who are seeking deeper self-understanding, emotional clarity, and a more authentic relationship with themselves. As a queer-identified therapist, I’m committed to offering an affirming and supportive environment for LGBTQIA+ individuals. I bring a grounded, human presence to my work and value helping clients reconnect with their voice as they navigate life’s challenges, transitions, and growth.
Let's Work Together
I approach therapy with warmth, attentiveness, and honesty. I believe meaningful healing happens in spaces where people feel safe enough to explore who they are without judgment or pressure to be anything other than themselves. My goal is to create a calm and approachable environment where clients can reflect, ask difficult questions, and gain insight into the deeper layers of their experiences.
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I often connect with individuals who are seeking greater self-understanding and emotional clarity. Many of the people I work with are navigating identity exploration, grief and loss, life transitions, or the impact of expectations that may have shaped how they see themselves. I value helping clients look inward with curiosity and compassion, supporting them as they learn, unlearn, and rediscover the parts of themselves that may have been hidden beneath external pressures or long-standing patterns.
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As a queer-identified therapist, it’s important to me to create an affirming and supportive space for LGBTQIA+ individuals. Growing up in a small town where acceptance was not always common shaped my understanding of how meaningful it can be to feel truly seen and understood. While I’m mindful not to assume shared experiences, I value offering a space where clients know they never have to explain or defend who they are.
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My approach to therapy is also shaped by my personal experiences with grief. When I was 24, I lost both of my parents unexpectedly within a week of each other. That experience deeply influenced my understanding of vulnerability, resilience, and the complicated nature of healing. In the years that followed, I worked as an EMT in emergency medicine. While the work focused on physical care, I found myself drawn to what I think of as “emotional triage” — sitting with individuals and families during moments of fear, uncertainty, and pain. Being present with people in those moments revealed how powerful it can be to simply witness someone’s experience and hold space for their story.
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My own experience in therapy during that time reinforced the impact of feeling genuinely heard and supported, which ultimately led me to pursue a path as a therapist. Today, I bring that same grounded, compassionate presence into my work with clients. I strive to sit with people in both the difficult and meaningful moments of life, honoring pain while also holding space for hope, insight, and growth.
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Outside of my work as a therapist, I enjoy creative and restorative activities that reflect my appreciation for storytelling and connection. I hold a BFA in Film Editing from Columbia College Chicago, and I value the role narrative plays in how we make sense of our lives. I also enjoy baking cakes, cooking elaborate meals, playing video games, and spending time with my fiancé and our lively household of one dog, three cats, and countless shrimp.
