Lauren Yorkis, LGPC

Healing Work

Therapy with me: When life gets difficult and uncomfortable, making connections can be a life-changing intervention. Connections can bridge fear into safety, hopelessness into hope, and helplessness into empowerment. I want to be that connection for you. I seek to do this through a client-centered therapeutic environment where clients feel free to explore and gain a better understanding of self. When life does not seem to work anymore and you need to create a new path for yourself, I can offer to hold space for your feelings of confusion, uncertainty, loneliness, and overwhelm. These times of transition call for a deeper reflection of our stories, feelings, values, behaviors, and goals. I want to help you navigate this journey.

My impacting identifies/roles that inform my work: I am a white female who has had many difficult experiences, fills many different roles, and wears many hats. As a teenager I was diagnosed with a chronic illness that brought me down in the moment but has since propelled my passion for helping others. This experience shaped the person I am today and paved the way for me in all facets of my life. Professionally, I spent the first 11 years of my career as a school psychologist working with children and supporting their families. For the past 3 years, I have been pursuing my therapy career and have found that working with adults in a clinical setting best suits me. Personally, I am a wife, mother to two boys, daughter to divorced parents, and sister. Through therapy and finding a safe space to learn my own boundaries professionally, personally, and in relationships, I have empowered myself and deepened my ability to help create that space for others.

I feel informed and knowledgeable about: Anxiety, depression, life transitions, teens, motherhood, and reactions to severe stress. I also enjoy working with and supporting parents.

I work best with clients who: are consistent, committed, and ready for help. Clients who are experiencing anxiety, depression, impacts of trauma, and life transitions. I enjoy working with
adolescents and teenagers along with supporting their families and caregivers. I also can assist with navigating parenting styles, skills, and interventions that work with your family dynamics.

I am not a good clinical fit for clients who: are younger than 10 or couples seeking marriage therapy.

What makes me unique: I have a background working in the school system and an understanding of the demands placed on adolescents and parents alike. My work is unique because I have a deep belief that wraparound care is the best way to support individuals in becoming their best selves. My personal experiences fuel my empathy and compassion for others and help enrich connections with my clients.

Learning and Growing

What I’m currently doing to learn and grow is actively pursuing and completing supervision to transition from an LGPC to an LCPC. I also continue to support the school system as a contract school psychologist. I have a love for learning and am hopeful to continue my growth as a therapist in areas such as polyvagal theory. I am always on the lookout for ways to better parent difficult children and how to establish a loving environment while also creating boundaries and connections for kids to learn and grow.

Fun Facts/Resilience Building

What resources me to build resilience: I build resilience by keeping my self-awareness tuned in to my own needs. When I need some TLC I seek out reading nonfiction, working out, taking walks, being outside and near the water, and surrounding myself with friends and laughter. I enjoy riding bikes with my 7 year old son and watching my 9 month old son learn and grow every day. Trying to soak up the daily goodness is how I stay grounded and present.

Education

– James Madison University (VA) – Bachelor of Science, Major in Psychology
– Appalachian State University (NC) – Master of Arts and Specialist in School Psychology
– University of Baltimore (MD) – Professional Counseling Studies

Certifications/Trainings/What I’m Reading Currently

I always have a copy of “The Body Keeps the Score” handy as a reference tool and often read chapters to help refresh my knowledge when needed. I have enjoyed reading “Thrivers” to help support myself and clients navigate the challenges of parenthood. I also like to disconnect from reality at times and enjoy easy romcom fiction, slightly suspenseful mysteries, or thrilling historical fiction.