Laken received her Master’s in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Department of Neuropsychiatry. She completed both her practicum and internship training with Illuminate Therapy & Wellness and now strives to further her clinical work as a licensed professional counselor (LPC). 

Laken has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults working directly with Depression, Anxiety Disorders, Adjustment to Phase of Life Issues, Grief and Loss, Attention-Deficit Disorder, Mood Dysregulation, Impulse Control Disorders, Disordered Eating, Substance Use and Trauma. Through her work in inpatient residential settings and extensive trainings, she also gained experience working directly with Substance Use Disorders, Bipolar Disorders and Schizoaffective Disorders. Her involvement as a Graduate Research Assistant allowed for an understanding of the efficacy of virtual reality and psychopharmacology in the treatment of Schizoaffective Disorders, Major Depression, Bipolar Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Dual Disorder Treatments, Substance Use Disorders, Chronic Pain, and more.

Laken has demonstrated competence in counseling theories and techniques used in the therapeutic process. She operates from an ethical and conscientious lens, allowing her clients to feel heard and understood. Laken displays a thorough understanding of multicultural approaches that help her provide culturally sensitive therapy to ensure clients from various ethnicities, religions, genders, and principles have their needs met, feel accepted, and adjust positively to the therapeutic process. She provides compassionate care in both individual and group settings. 

Laken’s strengths-based approach encourages her clients to identify, develop, and utilize their resources to learn how to become autonomous in their healing. Laken works from a place of empathy and authenticity to help clients feel heard and understood. Laken incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Play Therapy and a Psychodynamic approach to promote long-term healing, often including Gestalt, Adlerian, and Existential approaches when working with clients.

Laken enjoys helping clients gain the coping skills they need to face their challenges and traumas so they can discover their own resiliency and strength. She establishes herself as an advocate for her clients while supporting them to become their own best advocates. She brings her warm charisma into her sessions, connecting with clients through her accepting nature.  Laken’s Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology supports her ability to assist her clients find adjunct services that complement the therapy process, connecting and collaborating with community resources.

In her free time, Laken enjoys spending time with her husband as newlyweds, laughing with family and friends, traveling to new places, and running with her dog.