Lauren Cooper

I’ve been working as a counselor for over a decade and truly love what I do. I earned my MA in Counseling in 2015 and became a Licensed Professional Counselor in 2017. Before moving into private practice, I spent about 10 years in community mental health, where I had the privilege of working with a wide range of people, concerns, and diagnoses.

I’ve called the Gunnison Valley home since 2008 (aside from a few years away for grad school) and graduated from Western Colorado University in 2010. I understand the unique ups and downs that come with living in a small mountain community, and I bring that local perspective into my work.

I specialize in helping people who struggle with emotional dysregulation that can lead to impulsive actions or avoidance. I also enjoy working with college students and young adults—especially after spending a couple of years counseling at Western Colorado University. My approach is compassionate, down-to-earth, and focused on helping you find practical ways to understand yourself better and create the changes you want in your life.

My therapeutic approach is integrative and holistic, drawing from evidence-based modalities such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). I also incorporate principles from interpersonal neurobiology and attachment theory to create a supportive, healing environment where each individual can progress at their own pace. I also offer EMDR, a structured trauma processing therapy.

In our first session, clients can expect a welcoming and nonjudgmental space where we’ll begin getting to know each other. I’ll engage in a holistic assessment to better understand the big picture of your experiences—considering your emotional, physical, social, and environmental wellbeing. From there, we’ll begin to narrow in on your goals for therapy and what you hope to achieve through our work together. My aim is to help you feel comfortable, understood, and supported as we begin our work together.