Lauren Bomke

Lauren approaches therapy with warmth, attentiveness, and honesty. She believes 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. Her 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.

Lauren often connects with individuals who are seeking greater self-understanding and emotional clarity. Many of the people she works with are navigating identity exploration, grief and loss, life transitions, or the impact of expectations that may have shaped how they see themselves. She values 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.

As a queer-identified therapist, Lauren is especially passionate about creating an affirming and supportive space for LGBTQIA+ individuals. Growing up in a small town where acceptance was not always common shaped her understanding of how meaningful it can be to feel truly seen and understood. While she never assumes shared experiences, she values offering a space where clients know they never have to explain or defend who they are.

Lauren’s approach is also shaped by her personal experiences with grief. At 24, she lost both of her parents unexpectedly within a week of each other. That experience deeply influenced her understanding of vulnerability, resilience, and the complicated nature of healing. In the years that followed, she worked as an EMT in emergency medicine. While the work focused on physical care, Lauren found herself drawn to what she describes as “emotional triage” — sitting with individuals and families during moments of fear, uncertainty, and pain. Bearing witness to those experiences revealed how powerful it can be to simply be present with another person in difficult moments.

Her own experience in therapy during that time reinforced the impact of feeling genuinely heard and supported, which ultimately led her to pursue a career as a therapist. Today, she brings that same grounded, compassionate presence into her work with clients, honoring both the painful and meaningful parts of life while holding space for growth, insight, and hope.

Outside of the therapy room, Lauren enjoys creative and restorative activities that reflect her appreciation for storytelling and connection. She holds a BFA in Film Editing from Columbia College Chicago and values the power of narrative in understanding our lives. She also enjoys baking cakes, cooking elaborate meals, playing video games, and spending time with her fiancé and their lively household of one dog, three cats, and countless shrimp.