Profile / United States
Lauren Oestmann, LCSW
Illinois
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Stress and Addiction
See online therapy options- CBT methods
- DBT skills
- Motivational interviewing
About Lauren
Lauren Oestmann is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Illinois with 15 years of experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, anger, depression, relationship and family concerns, grief, intimacy issues, sleep problems, parenting challenges, self-esteem, career questions, bipolar disorder, ADHD, compassion fatigue, and coping with life changes.
Lauren has worked in a variety of settings including residential substance abuse, adoption preservation, corrections, and private practice. Her background includes direct work with children, teens, and families in those settings, and she draws on that breadth when planning care.
Her approach is practical and goal-oriented. She relies on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques alongside Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Trauma-Focused Therapy. Sessions focus on noticing unhelpful thoughts and habits and trying different ways of responding.
Lauren uses a strengths-based, client-centered style and often emphasizes short-term, solution-focused steps. She blends skills practice, reflective conversation, and goal planning so people can try concrete changes between sessions.
Work with Lauren usually begins by clarifying what is most pressing, then choosing a few practical strategies to try. She asks about day-to-day routines, relationships, and habits to shape simple, testable goals for progress.
How CBT, DBT, and Motivational Interviewing work online
Lauren uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. CBT breaks problems into small, testable steps such as tracking thoughts, testing beliefs, and trying new behaviors to see what changes.She also draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills for emotional regulation and distress tolerance. DBT offers practical tools for managing big emotions, improving interpersonal effectiveness, and reducing impulsive actions. Motivational Interviewing is used to clarify ambivalence and build motivation for change through guided conversation rather than advice.
Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. Lauren will collaborate with each person to select methods that match their goals, needs, and preferences. She adjusts techniques over time based on what is most useful in practice.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm current online options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, allow for shorter check-ins when time is limited, and reduce travel time. Therapists generally can focus on skills practice, planning, and reviewing progress in an online setting, which helps translate what is tried between sessions into real-life changes.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
15+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, anger, depression, relationship and family issues, grief, intimacy, sleep problems, parenting, self-esteem, career questions, bipolar disorder, ADHD, compassion fatigue, and coping with life changes.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is client-centered, strengths-based, and solution-focused. She emphasizes practical steps, skills practice, and clear goals.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 15 years of experience working across settings such as residential substance abuse programs, adoption preservation, corrections, and private practice.
What credential does she hold and where does she practice?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed in Illinois and practices from that state.
Does she offer sessions in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not specify session formats. Confirm current session options before booking.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies by location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What steps should I take to begin?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule 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.