Lori Guidinglight

Hello and Welcome!

Taking the step to look for a therapist can feel like a lot, so I’m really glad you’re here.

I’m a seasoned, Board Certified Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW #28654) in California, but more importantly, I’m a collaborative partner in your healing. My approach is holistic, integrative, and deeply strengths-based—meaning we don’t just look at what’s heavy or broken, but we focus on the natural resilience and tools you already carry.

I am incredibly passionate about walking alongside you on this journey, tailoring our work to fit your unique life, and helping you step comfortably into the best, most authentic version of yourself. When you're ready, let’s connect and figure this out together.

My therapeutic approach is deeply relational and collaborative—I believe a safe, genuine connection between us is the very foundation of your healing. True mental wellness is holistic, honoring the intricate bond between Mind, Body, and Spirit. Because you are entirely unique, we will work as a team to draw from my clinical "toolbox," tailoring our strategies to gently guide you back to your truest self.

I specialize in advanced, somatic, and brain-based modalities that go beyond traditional talk therapy to help you heal at a deeper level. Together, we can draw from:

• Brainspotting (BSP): A powerful, brain-body approach excellent for processing generalized anxiety, major life transitions, and grief.
• Specialized BSP & Soul Spotting: Advanced training to target self-esteem, attachment challenges, and deeper spiritual connection.
• Expansion BSP: Ideal for overcoming performance anxiety (exams, interviews, public speaking, or creative/athletic performances).
• Somatic & Polyvagal-Informed Care: Body-based awareness to regulate your nervous system, moving you out of survival mode and back into safety.
• Evidence-Based Talk Therapies: Seamless integration of CBT, DBT, and Mindfulness-Based CBT when traditional frameworks serve you.
• Mindfulness & Meditation: Drawing from my practice since 1996 (and teaching since the early 2000s) to naturally weave in grounding tools if they align with your goals.

It is completely normal to feel a little nervous before your first therapy session! Our first time meeting is really about slowing down, getting comfortable, and building the foundation of our relationship.

Here is what we will focus on during our initial time together:

• Getting to Know Each Other: We will connect organically so you can get a feel for my style and clinical presence, ensuring you feel safe and supported.
• Exploring Your Needs: We will gently talk through what brings you to therapy right now, as well as your unique hopes, needs, and wants for our sessions moving forward.
• Your Concerns Matter: This is a collaborative, pressure-free space. Your story, your pacing, and your individual concerns are the priority, and we will only ever dive into what you feel ready to share.

Think of this first step as a warm conversation where we begin figuring out the map back to your truest self, together.