Lauren Dawood , LPC, LCMHC

Lauren Dawood is a licensed professional counselor who helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar mood concerns, and challenges related to LGBT identity. She offers straightforward support for trauma, eating and body image concerns, ADHD, and relationship or career stress. Lauren works with people who feel overwhelmed, burned out, or unsure how to move forward.

She keeps conversations practical and respectful. Sessions focus on what a person needs now - coping tools, clearer thinking, and steps to try between meetings. Lauren adapts the pace and tone to each person's comfort level, and she checks in about what is or is not helping.

Her background includes more than 11 years of clinical work across settings. That experience informs her use of several commonly used approaches, including client-centered talk, cognitive behavioral techniques, mindfulness strategies, and skills from dialectical behavior therapy. These are used to address symptoms, daily functioning, and coping skills rather than to promise specific results.

Lauren pays attention to how past attachment wounds, abandonment, or dissociation affect day-to-day life. She also supports people dealing with chronic illness, caregiver strain, or the complex overlap of mental and physical health challenges. Her approach blends practical problem solving with attention to emotional safety.

Therapy sessions can include longer discussions, focused skills work, or short check-ins depending on need. Lauren encourages people to set clear goals and to revise plans as life changes unfold.

Approaches and Online Options for Care

Lauren commonly blends client-centered work with cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy. Client-centered work focuses on listening and reflecting so people feel heard and understood, which helps when processing identity or relationship concerns. Cognitive behavioral therapy looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and behavior and teaches practical techniques to reduce anxiety, manage mood, and change unhelpful patterns. Dialectical behavior therapy emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills useful for intense emotions and relationship strain.

Finding the right mix of approaches is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals, try techniques, and adjust the plan based on what helps most. Clients are invited to give feedback so sessions stay useful and relevant to everyday life.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which offer different practical benefits. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation for deeper discussion. Phone sessions can be easier when lower bandwidth or not being on camera is preferred. Live chat and text-based messaging work well for brief check-ins, quick skill coaching, or fitting support into a busy day. These options make it easier to schedule care around work, family, or other responsibilities.