Lauren LaPenna Licensed Professional Counselor

Lauren LaPenna, Licensed Professional Counselor, LGP13998 is practicing under the supervision of Kristie Slaski (Maryland, LCPC, LC6462) at Maryland Counseling Associates LLC.

Please, note: A clinician listed as being “clinically supervised” is completing clinical hours toward their licensure. They have one or more fully licensed clinical supervisors that often have special training. They consult with their supervisor(s) on all of their cases.

I've always been told that if you find a job you love, you'll never work a day in your life. From a young age, I've always known that if I could end up in a career where I'd be able to help other people, I would be fulfilling my life purpose. In college I gained clarity that I wanted to become a therapist after strengthening my passion for psychology and mental health. My professional experience began working for a domestic violence agency where I gained invaluable experience in crisis work. Additionally, in that same position, I had the incredible opportunity to teach young students the importance of healthy relationships and how to identify unhealthy aspects of a relationship. This experience laid the foundation for my desire to help others through their relationship challenges. Moreover, my love for primary prevention and psychoeducation was born. As a therapist, I want to be remembered as a smiling face who provides unwavering support as you navigate life's challenges. Sometimes, clients will come into the office and say, "I don't have anything to complain about today!" to which I always remind them, I am here for you not only on your worst days, but your best days, too. I want to hear about all the good aspects of your life, what you're proud of, and what's going well. I start out every session by asking, "How can I support you today?" and allow my clients the space to bring up anything and everything that is weighing heavy on their hearts and minds. While we have dedicated treatment goals, sometimes things come up that need to be processed in real time, and we put our goals on pause to handle whatever is most meaningful to you at the time of our session.