About
Hi! I’m Lauren and I’m here in the St. Petersburg area to help children, teens and families grow and thrive with personalized therapy journeys. With 5 years of experience in social work and child psychology, I specialize in creating a safe and relaxed space where kids of all ages can express themselves freely. I was born and raised here in St. Petersburg, and this community’s social-emotional wellbeing is of vital importance to me and my practice.
Professional Background
My journey to becoming a children’s therapist started with a passion for understanding how young minds work and a commitment to making a positive difference in their lives. I received my Master of Social Work from the University of South Florida and am licensed in the state of Florida. I have worked in preschool classrooms and provided counseling for teens in non-profit community setting. I also was a social work intern at Morton Plant Hospital in the labor and delivery unit providing counseling and community resources for young families and parents. For the last 4 years I have been in private practice therapy and have found my passion in helping my clients navigate their emotions, build healthy relationships and support their social-emotional development.
My Approach
In my sessions, I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), family systems Therapy and Strength-Based perspectives to guide children, teens and parents in navigating and learning skills for emotional regulation, cognitive reframing and coping with stressors. I have found it is more beneficial to let the client choose our activity such as painting, playing board games or creating sculptures with airdry clay, and then weaving our therapeutic activity into the play. This create a fun, inviting therapeutic environment where the client is collaborative with their therapist.
Outside of my practice, I love spending time exploring downtown with my husband, lounging at the beach, drinking coffee and reading books! I have found that connection and imagination can be healing and inspirational, and so I am dedicated to helping every child, teen and family discover their own strengths and shine!
