Hi, my name is Lauryl Spera and I am a counselor licensed in the state of Connecticut with over 10 years experience in the field. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC). I graduated Connecticut College with a Master of Arts in Psychology. I have worked in both outpatient and residential settings with dual diagnosis clients treating both Addiction and Mental Health disorders.
I have extensive training and experience on gender responsive treatment. This takes into account how each gender is socialized, and how societal pressures and norms continue to affect us. This not only affects how we view ourselves and the world but also has an impact on our experiences and opportunities. I also have a lot of experience with trauma and how it affects a person in growth and development. Past trauma can affect us years later, how we cope, how our brain thinks, and can deteriorate physical health. Treatment includes working to retrain the brain to become more effective in decision making abilities and overall wellbeing, and/or exploring and working through past issues. This depends upon the client and what they feel comfortable with.
My therapeutic approach is compassionate and non judgmental. My approach is an eclectic mix of person-centered and cognitive-behavioral therapy. I also incorporate Dialectical Behavioral Treatment often into therapy. This includes valuing what the client is experiencing/feeling and utilizing mindfulness techniques. I believe that the client needs to be in control of their treatment; what is discussed and what they want out of therapy. My goal is to help you on your journey and help you achieve a better quality of life.
I look forward to working with you!
Additional areas of focus: LGBT, Family conflicts, Grief, Intimacy-related issues, Eating disorders, Sleeping disorders, Parenting issues, Anger management, Self esteem, Bipolar disorder, Depression