Lauren Johnson, MA, LMFTA

“I recognize the incredible amount of vulnerability it takes to share one’s story and therefore I strive to individualize care to each of my client’s unique experiences. My approach prioritizes creating a nonjudgmental, warm, and collaborative working relationship to help you feel supported throughout the therapeutic process.
I also believe that people are deeply impacted by their life experiences which shape how they see themselves, others, and the world. Though these narratives may hold painful memories and emotions, I see people as capable of rewriting their stories and living a meaningful life. My work is guided by a family systems lens to help clients explore individual and relational factors that may be keeping them stuck.”

Schedule a Consultation with Lauren

Training & Certifications

I believe therapy is an opportunity to work through experiences that are keeping you stuck and explore new ways to approach life that align with your values and goals. Navigating this process can feel somewhat overwhelming and therapy provides a space to not go through it alone. As an Associate Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I am qualified to work with families, couples, and individuals struggling with various life challenges such as depression, anxiety, relationship stressors, and trauma.

My approach to therapy focuses on helping clients process challenging experiences and explore alternative ways to cope with difficult thoughts and feelings. I provide a personal approach to therapy and focus on maintaining a trauma-informed space in each session. I recognize clients are the experts of their own lives and I value following the direction they want to go in therapy. My therapy sessions are collaborative, nonjudgmental, warm, and may include humor at times.  

Individual Therapy
I believe that through therapy, people can make lasting change toward living a meaningful and value-driven life. My approach is informed by various evidence-based modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Family Systems Therapy.

For individuals facing challenges related to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), I utilize Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) to help increase daily quality of life. Additionally, I am trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) to treat individuals navigating the effects of trauma to help them process the emotions, beliefs, and behavioral impacts that are keeping one stuck.

Couples Therapy
When working with couples, I utilize the Gottman Method and Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) to help partners strengthen communication as well as find shared meaning and deeper connections with one another.

More About Me
I grew up in Washington and went to Whitworth University in Spokane, WA for both my undergraduate degree in Psychology and graduate studies in Marriage and Family Therapy. During my master’s, I gained experience working with children and adolescents in a school-based setting as well as providing services for couples, individuals, and families in the Spokane community. Following my graduate studies, I moved to Seattle and worked in a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) and residential program facilitating group therapy in addition to providing individual and family therapy for adolescents and adults.

In my spare time I enjoy running, traveling to new places, going to concerts, and spending time with my two dogs, Bella and Hazel.