Lauren Bartelt

LPC

• Wisconsin, Licensed Professional Counselor, 7052-125

I chose therapy as a career to join people in knowing, understanding, and valuing themselves, and to help them forge a path to their goals. Before going to grad school to become a professional counselor, I worked as an inclusion specialist, assisting adults with developmental disabilities to work and volunteer in their communities. That experience made me particularly interested in supporting individuals with developmental disabilities and mental health needs, in addition to their family members and caregivers. After graduating, I worked for nearly 3 years as a mental health counselor for youth with co-occurring developmental disabilities and mental health needs who were living in group homes. I provided individual counseling, as well as family counseling, and helped to move youth from restrictive group home settings to foster and family home settings. Though this was fulfilling, I found that I wanted broader experience, and more opportunities to work with adults. Since then, I have worked the past 3 years primarily with adults experiencing a range of identified challenges, like difficulties with managing intense emotions and stress, managing anxiety and mood, addressing past trauma and traumatic stress, working on improving communication and boundaries, navigating life transitions, decreasing shame and increasing self acceptance, and developing mindfulness and other positive coping skills. I additionally have developed specializations in working with LGBTQI+ individuals, college students, and people experiencing social anxiety.