Laken is a Master Level graduate student at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Department of Neuropsychiatry studying Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling. She is in her second placement with Illuminate Therapy & Wellness and is looking forward to her graduation in July of 2024 allowing her to work as a licensed professional counselor (LPC). 

Laken has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults through her Practicum experience at Illuminate Therapy and Wellness, working directly with Major Depression, Anxiety Disorders, Dual Disorder Treatments, Adjustment to Phase of Life Issues, Grief and Loss, Attention-Deficit Disorder, Mood Dysregulation, Impulse Control Disorders, and Trauma. She also has experience working with individuals and groups in the inpatient residential setting as a Behavioral Health Associate, working directly with Substance Use Disorders, Bipolar Disorders, Schizoaffective Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Depression, and Adjustment to Phase of Life Issues. Through extensive training, she gained skills working with individuals on the Autism Spectrum and Eating Disorders in a non-clinical setting. Her involvement as a Graduate Research Assistant has 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. Additionally, she has demonstrated competence in counseling theories and techniques used in the therapeutic process. She has facilitated and co-facilitated groups under faculty supervision, displaying a thorough understanding of multicultural approaches, group theories and techniques. 

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) 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. 

Laken 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. Her background has also trained her to provide culturally sensitive therapy to ensure clients from various ethnicities, religions, genders, and principles have their needs met, feel accepted and understood, and adjust positively to the therapeutic process. She provides compassionate care in both individual and group settings. 

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.