Hello, my name is Laura and I am so glad you have decided to reach out and learn more about the counseling process! I am an Air Force “brat” – now Air Force wife- and though I have moved around a lot over the years, I will always call Alabama my home. I have about 7 years total of counseling experience in substance abuse which means I have worked with many co-occurring mental health disorders from depression to bipolar disorder (see list below); however, I also have a lot of experience working with everyday challenges we all face such as stress, relationship issues, loneliness, just to name a few. There is never a problem too big or too small, and never a wrong time to work toward the life you want. I believe in working as a team with my clients in the counseling process. I can promise an empathetic, sincere, and warm environment providing genuineness, comfort and, yes, even humor. I practice a humanistic approach to therapy which just means I believe that people are inherently good and I encourage self-awareness and mindfulness. To achieve this I generally use CBT counseling and techniques to help identify unhealthy thought patterns and teach you how to handle them in healthier ways. I may also draw from existentialism, Choice Theory, or Gestalt Therapy. As every person is different, every approach to therapy will be tailored to your unique personality. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me. I look forward to working with you soon!