Lauryn Payne

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and National Certified Counselor currently pursuing my PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision. I work with adults to navigate life’s challenges, build insight, and create meaningful, lasting change.

My approach is warm, collaborative, and tailored to each individual. I strive to create a space where clients feel comfortable being open and honest, while also feeling supported in taking steps toward growth. Together, we focus on developing practical tools, increasing self-awareness, and moving toward a more balanced and fulfilling life.

Lauryn is a Chicago native and is a graduate of Northwestern University's Masters in Counseling program. She is a National Certified Counselor, holds her LPC and specializes in working with adult clients with mild to moderate clinically complex emotional and mental health diagnoses. Lauryn offers a safe, non-judgmental space to explore thoughts and feelings. She is passionate about helping clients gain clarity and progress toward wholeness. Her inviting approach allows clients to feel accepted, supported and heard.

Specifically, Lauryn is especially skilled at helping with:
Racial Identity and Justice as she removes barriers for minority clients to address cultural identity and trauma.
Anxiety and Depression: Lauryn helps clients recognize when they’re having negative or anxious thoughts and provides tools to calm the mind. Her goal is to improve how clients think, feel, interact with people, and handle daily life.
Trauma: Coping with the distress trauma brings is difficult, but healing is possible. Lauryn helps clients confront their traumatic experience head-on, cope with the effects, and begin moving forward in life.

Individuals who work with Lauryn develop greater personal direction, engage in healthy personal practices, and go after what they want in life. In therapy, Lauryn takes an eclectic approach using a psychodynamic foundation. She treats each client as a whole and pulls from different modalities to create a custom treatment plan. Lauryn is committed to providing resources and bridging any gaps in minority mental health care.