Profile / United States
Laura Phen, LPC
South Dakota
LPC counselor - relationships and trauma
See online therapy options- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Mindfulness skills
- DBT informed techniques
About Laura
Laura Phen is an LPC - Licensed Professional Counselor with 25 years of clinical experience. She helps people with anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, intimacy concerns, and depression. Her work also covers stress, grief, sleep difficulties, parenting strain, anger, self-esteem, career questions, bipolar concerns, ADHD, and compassion fatigue.
Laura focuses on practical, structured work. She uses techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thoughts and test new responses. She also draws on client-centered approaches to listen and understand each person's perspective. Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills and mindfulness practices are used when emotional regulation and stress management are priorities.
Sessions emphasize clear skills and steps. Clients often work on noticing automatic thoughts, trying small behavior changes, and practicing coping tools between visits. Communication and intimacy issues are handled with concrete strategies for conversation, boundaries, and rebuilding connection.
Her background includes long-term clinical practice in a range of settings. Over two decades of work have involved people affected by trauma, first responder stress, military-related issues, chronic illness, and life transitions. She also offers coaching-style support for career and life-purpose questions.
Laura frames progress as a sequence of manageable steps. People who prefer straightforward methods and measurable practice tend to find the approach useful. To begin, people are asked to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.
How therapeutic approaches translate to online care
Laura commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice patterns of thought and try different behaviors. CBT sessions focus on specific goals, homework exercises, and step-by-step practice to reduce anxious or depressed thinking.She also uses Client-Centered Therapy to create time for the client to describe their experience and priorities. That approach emphasizes listening and helping people identify their own goals. Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills are offered when emotion regulation and distress tolerance are needed, using concrete techniques for managing intense feelings.
Choosing the best approach is part of the work. The therapist collaborates with each person to decide which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences. Plans can be adjusted as goals change during care.
Practical benefits of online sessions include easier fitting of appointments into a busy schedule and shorter check-ins when time is limited. Specific session formats are not listed here, so confirm current session options before booking. Online work can make it simpler to practice skills between meetings and to include real-life examples during sessions.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
25+ years
Listed in
Washington, Oregon, Illinois, Utah, South Dakota, Arizona
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she commonly address?
She works with anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, intimacy concerns, and depression, among other concerns such as grief, sleep problems, and parenting strain.
How does she use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in sessions?
CBT is used to identify unhelpful thoughts and test new ways of responding. Sessions include concrete exercises and practice between meetings.
What experience does she bring?
She has 25 years of professional experience working with people affected by trauma, first responder and veteran issues, chronic illness, and life transitions.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is an LPC - Licensed Professional Counselor, with licensure in AZ and OR, and practices from South Dakota.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Are international clients accepted?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions priced?
Cost varies by location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the See online therapy options button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.