Laurie La Madrid

I'm Laurie, a licensed therapist based in Hawaii with 10 years of experience working with adults and seniors. I specialize in anxiety, depression, stress, anger management, and relationship challenges — the things that quietly take over your day-to-day life if left unaddressed. As an Asian woman, I bring both professional training and personal cultural understanding to the work. I know what it means to navigate emotional wellness in communities where mental health isn't always openly discussed, and I hold that with care. I offer telehealth sessions, which means I can work with clients across all of Hawaii — no matter which island you're on.

I draw from several evidence-based approaches including Internal Family Systems (IFS), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). In practice, this means we use what actually helps you — not a rigid protocol. Some clients want to understand the patterns beneath their anxiety or anger. Others need practical tools they can use right now. Most need both. I let you lead and follow your cues. My style is warm, direct, and real — I don't do jargon or formulaic responses.

The first session is a conversation, not an interrogation. I'll ask about what's been going on, what you've tried before, and what you're hoping for. You don't need to have it figured out to show up. Many clients tell me they feel relieved after the first session just from having space to say things out loud without filtering themselves. We'll also talk about what therapy with me looks like going forward, and you can ask me anything. My goal for that first hour is simple: that you leave feeling heard, and that you want to come back.