Laura Cole, M.S.
Halifax, PA & Camp Hill, PA
Laura is a pre-licensed clinician who works with clients navigating challenging life transitions, depression, anxiety, difficult family dynamics, and couples work — bringing a person-centered, present-focused approach that helps clients build insight and connect with their own worth.
Walk us through what a session with you feels like. . .
You will experience transparency and directness that is presented with the type of compassion and authenticity that gives immediate permission to take our time together as truly your own. As we get to know one another, you will find that I am listening deeply to hear you and will offer you the kind of interjections, support, and challenges that are honoring to your personhood while fostering opportunities for deepened access to your inherent worth and values.
Who do you feel most effective and energized working with?
If you come to therapy with a curious mind, a sense of humor, and a willingness to ask hard questions of yourself and your therapist!
What approaches do you use, and what does that actually look like for a client in the room?
Use of specific modalities is dependent on the client's needs, i.e., CBT is very useful for challenging one's inner critic, ERP foundational concepts support overcoming heightened levels of anxiety and fear, and somatic practices bring awareness to how one's body can serve as the individual's "dash board," aptly offering early warning signs to increased anxiety or depression. Regardless of what modality may be best for you, I always lead with person-centered principles and the "here and now" foundations of Gestalt theory which allows clients to bring awareness to the present moment, their experience of the therapeutic process, and thus increase insight and get to experience those, "AHA" moments!
What's something that you're really good at as a therapist?
Fostering an authentic sense of safety, genuine interest in you as a person and your hopes for therapy, and supporting a client's autonomy with respect and clarity.
What do you want a client to know before walking in?
Being nervous is normal and I have deep respect and awe for the bravery it takes to be willing to put your trust and vulnerability in me.
What are you into outside of work?
Outside of work, I am a proud mother of two, I enjoy gardening, reading, swimming, and taking random day trips with my besties. Music is also a prevalent part of my daily life.
