Laura Guarino, LMHC, LPC, QS

Never has mental health support been needed more than it does today. I see the stress people are under at work, at home, in school, and it is so clear to me that they need someone to talk to, someone who can offer a healthy perspective, someone who can suggest alternatives that can help people cope with the pressures of daily living, and their reactions to it. My personal mission is to find coping mechanisms for the patients in my care. There is so much more that needs to be done to help people with mental health issues, and I very much want to continue my efforts to be part of the solution.

I have been using an Eclectic Therapy in my 19 years of practice. I meet the client where they are at and use a variety of techniques based in the patient needs. I may have a patient who is impulsive and needs to think about their thoughts and feelings before reacting So I will start with Mindfulness. Then I may switch to imagery to help the client think of a happy place. . In my 18 years of practicing I have worked in the homes with children and their support systems making Family therapy a main component of treatment. There is so much more that needs to be done to help people with mental health issues, and I very much want to continue my efforts to be part of the solution.. I have been specializing in trauma for the last 16 years of practicing. I am certified in Trauma Focused- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF_CBT). I have spent the last 16 of my years of my career working with clients who are victims of physical and emotional abuse, separated from family members, domestic violence and many other types of traumas. I teach safety planning, harm reduction and healthy and legal coping skills. I work with clients to help that clients understand that trauma treatment is not what is wrong with you but rather what has happened to you?
I’ve been using CBT when working with clients for the past eighteen years. CBT has helped many client’s challenge and reframe reoccurring thoughts and manage life stressors. I help client to use CBT to recognize how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors influence each other. I then assist client’s in using that knowledge to change thinking patterns, which helps lead a less anxious and stressed life.
Every day i work with clients to help identify treatment areas. Those treatment areas may be new or old however the clients always need kealthy sklills to maintain boundaries and balance.