Laura Westbrook , LPC

Laura Westbrook is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who centers therapy on acceptance, empathy, and genuine connection. She emphasizes a person-centered model in which the client is regarded as the expert on their own life while she serves as a guide to facilitate change. Humor, curiosity, and creative tools such as literature, media, music, and meaningful conversation are woven into her work to help clients discover practical strategies that fit their individual needs.

Her path into counseling began with a concern for the gap in mental health care within the criminal justice system, and she has since focused much of her practice in nonprofit settings addressing addictions and trauma. She has experience working with male and female populations across the lifespan and values meeting people where they are with respect for diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Laura appreciates the privilege of hearing clients' stories and values the vulnerability involved in seeking help. She works with a wide range of people, including members of the LGBTQ+ community, individuals from various religious backgrounds, and people living with HIV or other chronic health conditions that affect daily life. She grew up in California, completed undergraduate studies at the University of Alabama, and earned Master’s and Specialist degrees from the University of Florida, whose counseling program was ranked second best in the country at the time. Outside of work she enjoys connecting with others through shared media, is a fan of the TV show The Office, and finds lightness and comfort in simple things like watching videos of playful goats.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Laura Westbrook draws from approaches that emphasize relationship, understanding, and motivation. Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on patterns of connection formed in early relationships and helps people address issues like abandonment, trust, and attachment-related struggles by exploring how past bonds influence present relationships. Client-Centered Therapy prioritizes the individual's experience and innate capacity for growth, providing a nonjudgmental, empathic stance that supports work on self-esteem, life transitions, and interpersonal concerns. Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative, goal-oriented method that helps people resolve ambivalence and find internal motivation for change, which can be especially useful for addictions and behavior change.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Laura collaborates with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts techniques over time so therapy remains aligned with what the client finds most helpful.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place as video calls, phone conversations, live chat, or text-based messaging - allowing clients to connect from home, work, or while traveling. This range of options helps make consistent care more accessible and easier to fit into varied schedules, while still allowing licensed professionals and therapists to build a meaningful working relationship.