Laura Elk-Weist is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 18 years of experience in psychotherapy for the treatment of anxiety, depression, LGBTQ+ concerns, and life transitions. She is naturally empathic and takes a warm, non-judgmental approach. Laura has advanced training in trauma and several modalities including CBT, ACT & Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR). What was your path to becoming a mental health provider? I pursued a career in mental health because I wanted my work to align with my personal values of kindness and dignity. I am naturally empathetic and I have a innate interest in people and their lives. I feel honored to have supported so many people on their path. What should someone know about working with you? I spend the first couple of sessions getting to know my clients, understanding their backgrounds and what is important to them. It is important to me that I am honoring my client's values and we are both involved in setting goals for our work together. Our sessions include psychoeducation on different topics and also different ways of coping and/or viewing thoughts and life events. I use an easy-going conversational approach to ensure my client feels comfortable.