Lauren Garcia, MFT Adolescents, Adults

Professional Statement

Many times when we leave our home we may often put on a brave smile, but behind closed doors we are battling feelings of loneliness, emotional pain, and reflecting on difficult life experiences. The challenges that we are confronted with in life can also have us feeling stuck, and managing difficult emotions. If you are the parent of a teen, you may worry if you are doing enough to support them, or wonder if their struggle to cope with life challenges could become worse. I know that reaching out to a therapist can initially feel scary because you want to ensure you can feel safe with someone who you really connect with and who understands.

I help teens, parents, adults, and families with overcoming trauma, manage anxiety, and support in rebuilding parent-child relationships after a life trauma. The mission of my practice is to empower adults, teens and families to recognize they have all the power to heal despite unfortunate life circumstances. Compassion, authenticity, and humor are my most valuable tools. My approach also lies heavily on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, in which we examine underlying thoughts and feelings in response to life events, and gently support in discovering a new positive life narrative.

I feel therapy is an important step in beginning to redefine your life experiences and I want you to have the coping tools to manage the challenging emotions that result from life trauma. Together, we will collaborate on a plan to have you and your teen on the road to healing. I look forward to working with you.

Education

MA in Clinical Psychology - Pepperdine University
BA in Psychology - University of California, Riverside

Insurances Accepted

Aetna
Anthem
Beacon Health Options, Inc.
Beacon Health Strategies
Blue Shield
Cigna
KAISER
Magellan
MHN
SHARP
United Behavioral Health
WELLFLEET