Laura Westbrook

Finding the right therapist to meet your needs that provides a comfortable and safe space is crucial to creating a solid foundation for change. I strongly believe that the relationship between therapist and client should be one that fosters acceptance, empathy, and connection. My approach to counseling includes working from a person-centered model where the client is the expert on their life, and I am there to help facilitate change and act as more of a guide on their journey. My approach also involves utilizing humor and allowing ourselves to explore the best tools to meet clients’ individual needs. This can be through literature, media, music and, of course, meaningful conversation. I originally got into counseling through my interest in the lack of mental health care in the criminal justice system. I strongly believe that every individual deserves adequate and competent mental health care, regardless of their background. In the past, I have primarily worked for non-profits treating addictions and trauma and have experience with both male and female populations of all ages. My favorite part about being a counselor is getting to know someone and hear their story. It takes a lot of vulnerability to be able to open up to someone else and I am always grateful that my clients trust me with the most intimate parts of their self. I work with a wide array of clients; from LGBTQ+ community members, to those with varying religious backgrounds, and even those that have been diagnosed with HIV and other chronic illnesses that affect their quality of life. Some fun facts about me! I grew up in California and attended college at the University of Alabama. I believe that living in two drastically different environments has helped me with developing my cultural competency as a counselor and has allowed me to engage with all different types of people. After graduating from Alabama, I went on to attend the University of Florida for my Master’s and Specialist degrees (ranked the second best Counseling program in the country at the time). I am a huge fan of the TV show The Office and feel that our favorite shows can be a great outlet for stress and one of the best ways to connect with others! When I was going through periods of feeling homesick early on in college, I learned that goats are my absolute favorite animal by watching videos of them being silly to help cope. We all have to find something that brings us comfort!