Hello, my name is Lauren. I hold a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling from Western Oregon University and a Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Neuroscience from Northeastern University in Boston, MA.

Before joining Alive Counseling Clinic, I spent more than five years working in community mental health, focusing on advocacy and supporting individuals facing complex mental health challenges. That work gave me a deeper understanding of the inequities and systemic barriers that shape access to care and a person’s sense of safety in the world—especially for those in marginalized communities. I also spent several years as a Prevention Science researcher at the University of Oregon. My investigative nature continues to inform my clinical work, and I often integrate assessment tools and neuroscience-based psychoeducation to support clarity and insight.

I am best suited to work with individuals experiencing anxiety, OCD, and trauma- and stress-related disorders. I have advanced training in Mentalization Based Narrative Exposure Therapy (MBNET), a modality developed specifically for complex interpersonal trauma, particularly childhood and attachment trauma. MBNET is well-suited for individuals who have experience with talk therapy and are seeking to process trauma with a level of detail and granularity they may feel was missing in previous modalities.

My approach is rooted in a deep respect for the complexity of being human. I work from a depth perspective, which means I’m interested not only in surface-level symptoms but also in the patterns, beliefs, and questions that shape your inner world. I often explore themes of identity, meaning, purpose, and what it means to live authentically. With an existential lens, I support clients in making sense of their struggles within the context of their values, relationships, and life stories. I draw from person-centered and existential approaches, along with evidence-based tools from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS).

I truly love my work and see it as a profound privilege to walk alongside others in their healing. I am continually humbled and inspired by the insight and strength my clients bring into the room. I often return to Rollo May’s idea of the “wounded healer”—the belief that through our own humanity, we are best able to support others in theirs.