Lauren Brands, LAC

Hello there! I'm Lauren, a Licensed Associate Counselor, and I'm honored you're here. As both a spouse of a first responder and a combat medic Army veteran, I understand the unique challenges that come with life in service. These experiences inspired me to specialize in supporting first responders, military personnel, ER staff, and their families. I strive to create a space where you can show up exactly as you are, no judgment, just authenticity. In session, we laugh, curse, and sometimes cry, because healing isn't about perfection; it's about being real, being heard, and dealing with the stuff that gets pushed aside when the job requires you to keep going.

My approach focuses on creating space to process what you've experienced, work through what continues to show up, and develop practical tools that make a difference both on and off the job. We may focus on trauma processing, nervous system regulation, relationships, boundaries, or the experiences you've had to compartmentalize in order to keep moving forward. I'm especially passionate about EMDR therapy, while also drawing from a variety of approaches to meet you where you are and tailor therapy to what you need.

You don't have to walk into your first session ready to unpack every bad call, deployment, loss, or thing you've spent years trying not to think about. We'll start with where you are now, what the job has looked like for you, what's working, what isn't, and what made you finally say, "I probably need to talk to someone."

I am a Military Star Behavioral Health Provider and am currently completing my Certified First Responder Clinician certification. I have specialized training in trauma, abuse, and deprivation, grief, and I use evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches to support trauma processing, nervous system regulation, and meaningful, lasting change.