Lara Clayton

I value the therapeutic relationship and strive to foster trust, open communication, honesty, and collaboration in the work we will embark on together. I believe the you are the expert in your own life and I have a warm, practical, and non-judgmental attitude when setting a course for healing with clients. Building a strong therapeutic alliance is crucial to honest communication that may challenge patterns that are no longer working in order to move toward healing.

I graduated with a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology with emphasis in depth psychology in 2009 and I would describe my style as person-centered. Working in the non-profit and public health sectors over the past 20 years has enabled me to hone my skills in evidence based practices and solution focused therapies. Thus, I am adaptive and flexible in treatment to help the client identify goals and provide effective treatment to realize those goals.

I have extensive experience treating depressive disorders, mood disorders, anxiety, trauma, grief, relationship problems, personality disorders, and substance use disorders.

I have an integrative style that fits the needs of the individual. I use tools to track progress and facilitate an open dialogue to foster a trusting therapeutic relationship. I have a person-centered approach and see the value in coping skills coaching and inquiry to promote self-awareness and healing.

The first session would consist of reviewing the intake form completed to identify strengths, challenges, and areas for growth toward setting realistic goals and start planning how to reach those goals.