about lauren
“To be soft is to be powerful.” -rupi kaur
about lauren:
I am 45 and have lived here in Northern California for over 25 years, although I still think of myself as a New Yorker.
Both my parents were psychologists in private practice, and the language of therapy was ever-present in my family since before I was born.
Before I became therapist myself, I was a working artist and professional photographer for 12 years. My artwork explored some of the same themes that my therapy work does now; things like self-discovery, identity, and relationships. I loved the intimacy of photographing; being able to see and reflect people’s beauty and strength back at them, to help them reorient to their story in a new way. Not too different from being a therapist.
In my mid-30s I began moving away from photography toward finding another career that was still creative and authentic, but that also let me work more directly on growing myself, deepening relationships with others, and transforming the world.
I chose a unique graduate program that emphasized experiential learning, as well as exploring your connection to self alongside learning how to hold space for others. After graduation I joined a one of a kind nonprofit whose mission is to provide fair compensation to marginalized therapists, to support us in building and maintaining a sustainable practice working with marginalized clients.
This agency continues to help launch the careers of some of the most thoughtful, self-aware, and talented therapists in Northern California. Its values and work culture make it a comfortable home base for me and most of my clients.
Along with my own practice I have the pleasure of supporting emerging therapists through supervision of associates at Axis, as well as teaching foundational classes in the graduate counseling program at San Francisco State University.
Taken at the 2023 SF Trans March. Credit to Dr. Roger Kuhn for his original “Decolonize Sexuality” Pride sign, which inspired me to make my sign.
Teaching & Consultation:
Foundational classes in the graduate MFCC program at SFSU (Group Therapy Process, Counseling Issues in Sexuality, Internship Seminar, Culminating Experience Paper Seminar, Consultation Process).
Harm Reduction as Social Justice: Axis Mundi Center for Mental Health 2018
Working with Trans clients in the Legal System: Oakland Public Defenders Office, 2017
Divergent Identity, Oppression, and Resiliency: JFK University, 2016
Private therapeutic case consultation on harm reduction, LGBTQ populations, GCS surgery assessments, and other specialty topics: ongoing
EDUCATION & Training:
Senior Clinician and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist: Axis Mundi Center for Mental Health 2021-present
Ketamine Assisted Therapy Foundational Training: Alchemy Therapy Collective 2023 (upcoming)
AMFT/PCC/MSW Supervisor Training: Ben Caldwell 2023 (upcoming)
WPATH Standards of Care v8 Training; Gender Health Training Institute 2023
Intersectional Authenticity with LGBTQ clients: Moe Brown 2023
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist: Axis Mundi Center for Mental Health 2017-2021
LGBTQ LOUD Youth Group co-leader/therapist: Pacific Center 2018-ongoing
Master’s Degree in Somatic Psychotherapy: JFKU 2013-2017
Completed EMDR Training: EMDRIA/JFKU 2017-2018
Attachment-Focused EMDR Training: Parnell Institute 2018
Mental Health at the Intersections: MOSAIC collective 2019
Gender Confirmation Surgery Assessment training; Axis Music Center for Mental Health 2018
MFT/LPCC Traineeship: Oakland Counseling Center, 2017
Harm Reduction Direct Services: Berkeley NEED, 1998-2004
Professional affiliations & MEMBERSHIPS:
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)
World Professional Organization of Transgender Health (WPATH)
Bay Area Open Minds
Gaylesta
International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISST-D)
National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF); Kink Aware Professionals
EMDR International Association (EMDRIA)
The Parnell Institute
Harm Reduction Coalition
National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA)