Laura Thomas-Marlow

LCPC

When I was an undergraduate student, I struggled with whether I wanted to teach, write, or be a therapist. I had volunteered at the crisis hotline and had felt like I really helped people, but I also enjoyed helping at this preschool as a substitute teaching assistant. Then I had the opportunity to facilitate a training with some other students, and I realized what I liked the most was helping people grow and learn about themselves and their relationships, and that it seemed both as though it facilitating self-revelations, was something I was good at, and that it was an activity that the world needs. Plus, I felt as though having had trauma and having struggled and found my wya back to health gave me important insight.

I have had many personal experiences that have influenced my work with my clients. I have survived some trauma in my life, I won't go into detail, just say that both as a child and an adult, I had medical trauma and was assaulted. I believe that these experiences and my recovery from the effects gave me both a passion and insight into what it takes to rebuild or build the skills of self-regulation and a basic sense of safety. I know firsthand the struggles of insomnia and have more tricks to help combat it than most therapists I know.

I am a caring, empathetic, creative therapist who believes that healing occurs for most people in several ways. Connection facilitates emotional insight adn resolution, building the skills of emotional regulation through knowledge adn practice, also facilitates growth and a sense of safety, which is the building block of emotional development, more positive emotions like belonging, connection, and safety, and is a key for physical health as well. Medicine can help, but the key to resolving trauma is in safety in our hearts, minds, and bodies; all our parts are needed and precious. I believe that another key is both acceptance and understanding that the only thing in our lives that we can have true power over is expressing our values and the beauty and meaning we are making and can make with our lives.