Laura Rouser

Hi, I’m Laura, a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 10 years of experience helping people understand themselves, get unstuck, and make real changes in their lives. I have a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and have worked in substance use treatment, community mental health, and private practice. I specialize in anxiety, ADHD, substance use, mood concerns, relationship patterns, and confidence-building. My style is warm, direct, down-to-earth, and focused on helping you see patterns more clearly so you can start doing things differently.

I’m an active therapist, meaning I won’t just sit quietly while you try to figure everything out on your own. I help clients slow down, sort through what is happening, and look at situations from a perspective that feels more grounded and less overwhelming. I often use CBT to help with unhelpful thought patterns, and I’m certified in DBT, which means I teach concrete skills for managing emotions, setting boundaries, communicating clearly, and getting through hard moments without making things worse. My goal is for therapy to feel supportive, honest, and useful in your actual day-to-day life.

In the first session, my goal is to really understand you, not just the reason you clicked “book.” I’ll ask questions about what’s been going on, what you’ve tried before, what feels stuck, and what you’re hoping will feel different in your life. I want therapy to feel comfortable, collaborative, and like a place where you don’t have to have the perfect words to explain what you’re feeling. After the first session, things usually feel more natural and conversational as we talk through what’s happening week to week, connect it back to your bigger patterns, and figure out what actually helps. I may give homework, but it’s usually a small real-life challenge or reflection, never a worksheet.