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Who We Are

Lauren Casas, MA, LPC, ACS

Lauren has 18 years of experience in helping children, teens, young adults, parents, and women who are facing emotional challenges. Lauren’s primary intention as a therapist is to provide a warm, supportive, and safe environment where individuals of all ages can heal the wounds that have impacted their ability to live in alignment with their life’s vision. Lauren is dedicated to studying various approaches to counseling in order to provide clients with quality care. She focuses much of her time studying the impact of childhood trauma. In addition to providing therapy through Symbol of Hope Counseling, Lauren is the Clinical Supervisor of Preferred Center for Children and Families, the children's outpatient therapy program at Preferred Behavioral Health Group. Outside of the therapy office, Lauren can be found spending time with her husband and three children.

Who We Help

Children as young as 5, adolescents, young adults, parents and women. We have had great success in helping those with anxiety, depression, ADHD, a history of abuse, children experiencing divorce, loss of a loved one, bullying issues, school refusal or issues, giftedness/twice exceptional youth, the highly sensitive child and those in need of parenting skills. Lauren is also passionate about helping women in need of stress management, resolving issues around self identity, adjusting to motherhood, anxiety, and depression.

How We Help

Lauren is dedicated to providing a comfortable, reliable and safe environment for her clients to process and heal the experiences that have resulted in their current emotional struggles. She believes in a mind-body approach and incorporates various healing modalities, based on the need of the individual.

Our Therapy

Sand Play Therapy

Sand play therapy is offered to individuals of all ages. This powerful approach involves placing small figures of one's choice in a tray of sand. During this process, one's subconscious mind is permitted to expose it's contents which contributes to current patterns of functioning. Once what lies in the subconscious mind is brought to conscious awareness, healing can begin.

Lauren has received advanced training in sand play therapy and has been practicing and studying this process since 2010.

EMDR

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidenced based trauma treatment. During this process, you will revisit your experience while experiencing bilateral stimulation. The experience will be re-examined and it's lingering negative impact will resolve.

Lauren has received extensive training in this approach and is an EMDRIA approved clinician.

Play Therapy

The language of the child is play. Through play, children feel safe in communicating their unmet needs, which are often the cause of the behaviors that interfere with their functioning at home, in school and in the community.

Lauren is hands on during play with clients, following their lead and incorporating therapeutic lessons based on the child's needs.

Yoga Therapy

Yoga reinforces the mind-body connection. It teaches the skill of becoming aware of one's breath and how we hold our experiences in our physical bodies. It aids in returning to a regulated state when experiencing a sense of overwhelm.

Lauren is a certified yoga for kids teacher and loves teaching this practice to even her youngest of clients. Yoga is incorporated into sessions when appropriate.

Meditation and Mindfulness

People of all ages benefit from the practice of meditation and mindfulness, as it allows one to be aware of the present moment. The first step in change is awareness of undesirable thoughts and behaviors. Once awareness is mastered through mindful attention, the choice of how to respond to a situation can be made. Meditation and mindfulness practices are taught and encouraged during sessions.

MARI

The Mandala Assessment Research Instrument is an art therapy tool, allowing the individual to intuitively identify symbols and colors that represent their conscious and subconscious minds. When this tool is used, clients are able to visualize the areas in need of attention in order for healing to occur.

Reiki

Reiki is an ancient Japanese healing modality, during which the practitioner creates a state of relaxation for the client through the manipulation of energy that has developed stagnancy. This is a noninvasive experience, in which Lauren will place her hands either gently on the client or several inches above their body to facilitate the energy healing process. Concepts regarding one's energy, including EFT/tapping, are also taught to clients of all ages.

Lauren has completed three levels of reiki training and has achieved reiki master status.

Guided Imagery and Music

During this process, the client enters into a meditative, "non ordinary state," while listening to a piece of music. The client experiences a healing journey which is followed by processing via creating a sand tray, drawing a mandala or verbal exploration.

Lauren has completed level 1 intensive training in the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (GIM). She is considered a student of GIM.

Talk Therapy

Lauren offers a form of therapy that provides genuine acceptance and support to the client as they begin their journey towards healing. Lauren is a nonjudgmental listener who maintains a safe environment in which the client can resolve undesirable internal conflicts. Lauren incorporates modalities including Jungian, Solutions-Focused, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Humanistic, based on the individual's needs.