About Laura
"Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It's a relationship between equals. Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with the darkness of others. Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity." -- Pema Chodron
In my own journey, therapy provided a safe space for self discovery and for walking through dark times to greater understanding and freedom. It was a refuge. In the presence of a compassionate and accepting witness, profound healing and transformation became possible for me.
I love helping people (re)discover their inner wisdom and capabilities and live a life of choice and integrity.
I consider this work my calling and am committed to walking the walk. A huge and important part of this for me is working to unhook from the conditioning of oppression both in my privileged and marginalized identities. For me this includes group work, meditation, reading, activism, and my own ongoing inner work. I am grateful to the many people who have helped me further my understanding of white body supremacy and systemic oppression, and I am indebted in particular to Resmaa Menakem, and Leticia Nieto, from whom I have learned so much.
I have spent much of my adult life supporting others and in becoming a therapist, I have found my most right role. Before starting my formal training as a mental health therapist, I spent over ten years providing services to teens and adults in a variety of social service settings including crisis centers, residential treatment, low-income housing, and family planning clinics.
In 2009, I earned my Masters degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University Seattle. In 2014, I became a certified Chemical Dependency Professional. Additionally, I am certified in EMDR, and I completed levels 1 and 2 in Lifespan Integration therapy, a gentle trauma reprocessing modality. I completed one year in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and the three year Somatic Experiencing program, with an expected completion in 2021. I also integrate much of the theory and practice from Internal Family Systems. See my Approach page for more details about how I work.
I also received training in Cultural Somatics from Resmaa Menakem in 2019 and as best I can, I integrate his transformative work in helping myself and others develop capacity to face racialized stress and uproot white body supremacy.
I continue to participate in ongoing trainings, silent meditation retreats and consultation with other therapists to expand my effectiveness, deepen my ability to show up well, and to be of maximum service to you.
In my own journey, therapy provided a safe space for self discovery and for walking through dark times to greater understanding and freedom. It was a refuge. In the presence of a compassionate and accepting witness, profound healing and transformation became possible for me.
I love helping people (re)discover their inner wisdom and capabilities and live a life of choice and integrity.
I consider this work my calling and am committed to walking the walk. A huge and important part of this for me is working to unhook from the conditioning of oppression both in my privileged and marginalized identities. For me this includes group work, meditation, reading, activism, and my own ongoing inner work. I am grateful to the many people who have helped me further my understanding of white body supremacy and systemic oppression, and I am indebted in particular to Resmaa Menakem, and Leticia Nieto, from whom I have learned so much.
I have spent much of my adult life supporting others and in becoming a therapist, I have found my most right role. Before starting my formal training as a mental health therapist, I spent over ten years providing services to teens and adults in a variety of social service settings including crisis centers, residential treatment, low-income housing, and family planning clinics.
In 2009, I earned my Masters degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University Seattle. In 2014, I became a certified Chemical Dependency Professional. Additionally, I am certified in EMDR, and I completed levels 1 and 2 in Lifespan Integration therapy, a gentle trauma reprocessing modality. I completed one year in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and the three year Somatic Experiencing program, with an expected completion in 2021. I also integrate much of the theory and practice from Internal Family Systems. See my Approach page for more details about how I work.
I also received training in Cultural Somatics from Resmaa Menakem in 2019 and as best I can, I integrate his transformative work in helping myself and others develop capacity to face racialized stress and uproot white body supremacy.
I continue to participate in ongoing trainings, silent meditation retreats and consultation with other therapists to expand my effectiveness, deepen my ability to show up well, and to be of maximum service to you.