HI, I’M DR. LAUREN ROSSO
I’m grateful that you’ve found your way to my website and are considering beginning therapy. One of the most important things in therapy is making sure you work with someone who is a good fit for you, so I want to tell you more about myself to help you decide if you think we would work well together.
MY VALUES
My belief as a therapist is that establishing a strong therapy relationship built on openness, vulnerability, and trust is the most vital factor in achieving what you hope to achieve through the therapy process (research shows us this time and time again!). In my work I focus on getting to know you as a whole person beyond your reason for coming in, so for example I often explore what a person’s values in life are, what their relationships look like, and important life events. Therapy works best when it is collaborative and goal oriented, so once we get to know each other we will identify together what you’re hoping to gain out of our time together and create a tentative path for how to get there, knowing that we’ll need to have some flexibility and be open to change along the way.
MY APPROACH
In my experience when a person can become more mindful, self-accepting, and in touch with their values, they feel much more capable of approaching and improving the areas in which they feel stuck. I practice mostly from the perspectives of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Interpersonal Therapy, which both value mindfulness, acceptance, and living a valued life. Recently, I find myself emphasizing self-compassion within the framework of these perspectives. The more mindful we can be of our struggles with an intention of kindness, the easier it becomes to move through difficult times and make the changes we desire. More and more I witness the importance of using a holistic approach in therapy, which means in addition to attending to your mind, emotions, and behaviors, we also need to pay attention to the messages your body is sending. By utilizing mind-body approaches, such as meditation or yoga, in tandem with traditional psychotherapy, we can understand and heal wounds on a deeper level. These are the lenses through which I view the world, but every person is different and I modify and tailor my approach to fit each person’s needs and goals.
MY EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
I completed my Masters and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Pacific University in Portland, Oregon and am licensed as a clinical psychologist in the state of Arkansas. I am trained as a generalist and can work with a variety of concerns, but my areas of specialty include anxiety, trauma, relationship issues, identity development, and life transitions. I started my education right down the road at the University of Arkansas where I got my bachelors degree in psychology.
MY INTERESTS
In my free time I love walking my dogs, Pippin and Rosie, practicing yoga, being outside whenever I can (especially in or near a body of water), tending to my growing collection of house plants, or curling up with a good book.
REACH OUT
For many people it can be intimidating to start this process, so if you have questions or want to learn more about how therapy works I’m happy to talk with you before we meet for the first time. I’m excited to hear from you!