Family therapy and counseling in Puyallup, WA

Hello! I'm Lauren Salerno (she/her), a licensed mental health therapist in Washington! I am also trained in art therapy, and love to incorporate creativity into my work with people. My typical client is neurodivergent, creative, and looking for healthy coping skills to learn when to adapt and when to advocate for themselves. I work with adults 18+ and sometimes with groups. Nice to meet you!

I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to connect to others through compassion, meaningful conversations and authenticity. I started my own mental health journey when I was affected by crippling anxiety in my twenties. I felt alone and ashamed and really just needed someone to listen compassionately. I now want to offer this to others.

I received my BA in Social Sciences from Washington State University and went on to finish my Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy at Touro University. I have three years of clinical experience and have worked with individuals, couples, and families. My main focus is: self-esteem, anxiety, depression, neurodivergence, life transitions, relationship issues, and communication.

I am a good match for clients who want to:

• improve self-esteem
• reduce anxiety and/ or depression
• improve how they communicate with others
• learn how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected and how they can utilize new skills to make changes in their lives
• accept themselves for who they are now, while committing to growth
• be as kind to themselves as they are to others
• understand and utilize neurodivergence to reach their full potential

I am not a good match for those who require very specialized care, including clients who are experiencing active:

• delusions, hallucinations, or paranoia
• suicidal ideation or self-harm
• addiction
• disordered eating
• personality disorder, i.e., borderline, narcissistic, etc.
• domestic violence
• obsessive-compulsive disorder

I am also not a good match for those who are seeking therapy with the primary or secondary goal of obtaining a letter or testimony from a therapist for legal, employment reasons, etc.

I’m Dr. Deborah E. Jones, PhD, ARNP, PMHNP-BC, a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner dedicated to helping adults find balance, resilience, and renewed purpose. I take a compassionate and collaborative approach to care—combining evidence-based medication management with supportive therapy to promote lasting emotional wellness.

I’ve worked in nursing for more than 30 years across clinical care, education, and leadership, and for the past eight years I’ve specialized in psychiatric mental health as a nurse practitioner. My specialties include anxiety, depression, mood disorders, and stress-related concerns, and I especially enjoy working with individuals who are motivated to invest in their personal growth and well-being.

At Deborah E. Jones, Psychiatry & Mental Wellness, PLLC — A Lucid Collaborative, my goal is to create a therapeutic space where insight, healing, and clarity come together—empowering you to live with greater peace and confidence.

I’ve been working in the mental health field since earning my Masters of Science in Social Work degree with a specialization in Alcohol and Drug Counseling from the University of Louisville in 2011. Over the years, I’ve worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings, supporting adults through challenges with mental health and substance use. Those experiences have given me the privilege of walking alongside people in some of the hardest and most transformative moments of their lives.

I’m a licensed psychologist with more than three decades of experience in psychotherapy, psychological assessment, and trauma-informed care. My background includes extensive work with adults, adolescents, and children across private practice, medical settings, and the VA’s PTSD clinic, where I provided both treatment and disability evaluations. I completed my doctorate at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in an APA-approved Counseling Psychology program and an APA-accredited internship with broad training in assessment, psychotherapy, and multidisciplinary collaboration. I specialize in trauma, mood and anxiety disorders, dissociation, family-of-origin issues, and helping people untangle long-standing patterns that keep them stuck. My style is warm, open-minded, and direct, meeting people right where they are while helping them move toward where they want to be.

With 30 years of experience as a therapist, I earned my Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Stanford University, specializing in school and community-based counseling. I'm dedicated to guiding clients through challenges like trauma, anxiety, and depression, fostering self-awareness and providing practical strategies for greater clarity and fulfillment. My practice is built on a compassionate approach, crafting personalized, evidence-based therapy to help you thrive. I also bring a unique perspective from my work as a university professor and international consultant, promoting mental health equity and inclusivity worldwide.