Lauren Ashley Shapiro

(she/her)

PsyD

Clients I Work With

I work with adults across the spectrum—LGBTQ+ clients, neurodivergent folks (ADHD/autistic), trauma survivors, people navigating kink/poly dynamics, and high achievers who look “fine” on the outside but feel fried, disconnected, or quietly miserable on the inside. Clients come to me for anxiety, depression, identity stress, burnout, relationship patterns, and major life transitions. Many are smart, self-aware, and successful on paper, but stuck in loops they can’t outthink. They’re ready for therapy that’s honest, effective, and built for real change: self-trust, boundaries, emotional regulation, identity clarity, and a life that actually fits.

Approach

I’m not here to nod and say “how does that make you feel?” on repeat. I’m integrative and evidence-based, pulling from approaches that actually work (trauma-focused CBT, DBT skills, ACT, and positive psychology) and tailoring them to you—no rigid manuals, no one-size-fits-all. I’m direct and collaborative: I’ll tell you what I’m seeing, we’ll check if it resonates, and we’ll decide together what to do next. I use plain language, not therapy jargon, and I’ll explain what we’re doing and why it works—because I follow the research, not trends. I bring humor when appropriate (never at your expense), and I’m neuro-affirming: your brain isn’t broken, it’s wired differently. Most importantly, you don’t have to perform wellness here. Show up as you are.

Beliefs & Lived Experience

I believe therapy works best when you don’t have to perform. You can show up messy, guarded, sarcastic, shut down, overachieving, overwhelmed—whatever is real—and we’ll work with that. I believe in accountability with compassion: you deserve gentleness for what you’ve lived through, and you also deserve a life that isn’t run by old patterns. I’m a big fan of plain language, honest feedback, and building skills you can actually use outside the therapy hour. I’m neuro-affirming and LGBTQ+ affirming, and I have a lot of respect for people living outside society’s “default settings.” I also believe humor matters. Sometimes the most healing thing you can do is laugh at the absurdity of being human—and then get back to the work of building a life that fits.

More About My Practice

I offer a complimentary 15-minute consultation call to make sure we’re a good fit before you invest your time (and energy) in starting therapy. I currently provide virtual/teletherapy services only, and I’m able to work with clients located in California due to licensing. Sessions are 50ish minutes and can be short-term, skills-focused, or longer-term work depending on your goals. In addition to therapy, I offer psychological testing/evaluation (including ADHD/autism-focused assessments) and professional consultation. If you’re dealing with a legal/court-related situation, I also provide consultation around court comportment and related clinical considerations. If you’re not sure what you need, we’ll talk it through and find the right next step.

Ages Served

Adults
Young Adults (18-25)

Services Provided

Individual Therapy
Legal Documentation
Testing and Evaluations

Languages Spoken

English

Faith Communities Served

Jewish

Specializations

Modalities

Acceptance and Commitment (ACT)
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
Insight Oriented Therapy
Motivational Interviewing

Specialties

ADHD
Anxiety
Athletes
Autism
Burnout
Depression
Educational and Learning Disabilities
First Responders and Medical Professionals
Gender Identity
LGBTQ+
Life Transitions
Neurodivergent Affirming
Non Monogamy
Relationship Issues
Self Esteem
Sex-Positive, Kink Allied
Trauma and PTSD
Women's Issues

Insurance and Payment

Payment Accepted

Credit

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Out of Network (Superbills Provided)

Private Pay (Superbills Not Provided)

Sliding Scale

Session Fees

$125

-$250

Insurance Accepted

Kaiser Permanente
Medicare

State Licensed In

California