To Whom This May Concern,

When Lauren asked me to write this I was delighted and honored. I came to Lauren in October of 2016 after I lost my mom. I was 16 years old and was very hesitant about going to therapy. I did not think I needed it, but my guardian insisted on me going weekly. Losing a family member is never easy, but it took over my entire life. I was in a very dark place in my life; I was self-harming, isolating myself from loved ones, losing weight in an unhealthy way, missing school, and other signs of depression. I was very resentful toward all things about therapy because I thought it was a sign of weakness. I felt this for a long time, but slowly that feeling started to go away, and that is because of Lauren.

My loved ones and I could easily see my improvement. I was getting better weekly because of the skills she has given me in order to function on a day to day basis. Through the DBT skills she has given me, I have learned how to cope with a depressive episode, talk positively to myself, and she has given me so many tips on how to cope with the loss of my mother. She never forced me to talk or do something I did not want to, but she always gave me my options. I think the two most important things she has helped me realize is the importance of asking for help and giving myself credit for how far I have come. These were things I have struggled with for the majority of my life. Through time and guidance, I was able to overcome these burdens I had put on myself and I will forever be grateful for Lauren’s effort in helping me.

When it was time for me to leave for college, I was nervous for obvious reasons, but one of the main reasons was because I had to leave Lauren. After my mom passed, Lauren was one of the only consistent things in my life. She was consistent in her time, location, but most importantly in her support. If there was ever a time that I felt I couldn’t get out of bed, she would always let me know that I could do an appointment over the phone. If there was an emergency and I needed to see her, she would immediately tell me her openings to come in or if a phone call would help. She has never given up on me, she has always made me feel like I was her first concern when I was with her, and I know I could trust her with anything. I did not know if I would be okay without seeing her for long periods of time. However, Lauren assured me that she was just a phone call or text message away.

It always puts a smile on my face to see a message from her and she always makes me feel like she cares at all times, not just in a session. I use the skills that she has given me daily and even recommend them to my loved ones. Everyone I care about knows how important Lauren is to me and how crucial she has been to me for the past two years. Lots of people say that while going to therapy you may need to hop from therapist to therapist to find the right, but I was so lucky to have found the right one the first time. I genuinely do not know what I would do without her and would recommend her without reservation. Anyone who has her as a therapist is very lucky and will see improvement in themselves.