Laura Garza

Hi, I'm Laura, and I help individuals struggling with trauma, anxiety, substance use, and depression. I provide a safe space to get started working on things that feel difficult and messy. I have specialized experience treating trauma, substance use, and those involved in car accidents or struggling with TBIs and chronic pain. I have worked in individual outpatient therapy settings, residential psychiatric and substance use settings, and inpatient hospital settings, serving those struggling with a wide range of mental health difficulties.

I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Board-Approved Supervisor in Texas and a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in Minnesota and Alabama, with over 8 years of experience. In addition to my clinical practice, I serve as a Master of Social Work (MSW) professor, which allows me to stay connected to current research and best practices for my clients.

I have a doctorate of education from National University, a Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Troy University. I decided to become a therapist after experiencing the life-changing benefits of therapy myself, and dropped out of law school to pursue this career.

My work is focused on helping clients navigate through life's difficulties, whether that be substance use, depression, anxiety, or trauma. I am EMDR-trained, which is an evidence-based approach to help process and reduce the impact of traumatic experiences. This is not the only approach I use, as I adapt other evidence-based modalities to meet you where you are. While I am specialized to treat all varieties of trauma, I have extensive experience in treating those recovering from serious car accidents and personal injuries. I am direct but warm and welcoming, helping you gain insight into your concerns and work through the challenges you may be facing. Therapy with me is a safe place to process everything going on in your life without judgment.

My first session is like a big "get to know you" type of meeting. I'm going to review the ins and outs of therapy and what it will look like so you feel comfortable with the process, and then I want to hear about you and why you're here. During the first session, I like to ask a lot of questions (at your pace and as you are comfortable answering) to gain insight into the problems you're facing, what support looks like, history of problems, what's worked in the past, etc. This helps us develop a treatment plan together with goals you are ready to work toward. Therapy is a collaborative process, and I want you to be involved in goal-setting to ensure we can work toward these goals. From there, we're going to hit the ground running to start working towards those goals. By the end of the session, my hope is that you feel heard and understood, have a clear idea of what therapy will look and feel like, feel you have a safe place in the therapy room to discuss life's challenges (and wins), and understand your goals for treatment.