Dr. Lauren Cotton

Lauren Cotton is a board certified, doctoral-prepared Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She has extensive experience in psychiatric nursing across a range of clinical settings, including community health centers, hospitals, residential treatment, and homebased care. Lauren graduated from Fairfield University in 2022, earning her Doctorate in Nursing Practice with a specialty in Psychiatric Mental Health. After graduation, she participated in a two year residency program with Community Health Inc. in Connecticut, where she completed rotations in child/adolescent, addiction, and adult psychiatry. Lauren practices with a commitment to advancing patient-centered psychiatric care within an integrative, whole-person paradigm for diverse populations. She is comfortable treating mental health conditions across the spectrum of disorders, with the intention of increasing access to care for those in need.

I care for patients in a collaborative, mindful way. Our work begins with a comprehensive understanding of your health history, current concerns, and personal health goals. Patients are encouraged to be active participants in their care, helping to create a comprehensive, achievable treatment plan that feels aligned with your expressed needs. Taking this measured and intentional approach, I integrate recommendations of medication management, supportive therapies, and specialty referrals, either individually or in combination, as appropriate.

Our initial appointment will include information gathering and goal setting. From this session on, appointments will be focused on working with specific evidence-based treatments to meet the identified goals. Patients can anticipate sessions grounded in warmth, curiosity, and respect. I prioritize creating a space where you feel safe to be honest and explore what’s coming up without fear of judgment, guilt, or shame. Over time, and as our work together deepens, I hope my patients experience not only symptom relief, but greater self-awareness and resilience.

I draw from evidence-based approaches including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and trauma-informed care. I approach each of these theories through a holistic lens, honoring the connection between mind, body, spirit, and environment. Examples of the work we might do together includes recognizing behavioral patterns, building coping strategies, and gaining perspective.