Laura Falk

STRESS & ANXIETY Anxious thoughts play through your mind on an endless loop. No matter how hard you try, your default thinking gravitates towards the worst case scenario. It feels like you're always looking for the next bad thing to happen. You seem to be trapped in a cycle of "what-ifs". Your body responds and you notice you're getting headaches, tightness in your chest, stomach aches, racing heart, and becoming generally irritable. Stress has worn you down and you're ready to move from surviving to thriving. You don't have to live a life of worry. Laura can help you to identify, challenge, and change those negative and fearful messages so you can move forward in life with hope and confidence. Laura can help you learn how to cope with life's challenges so you can feel calm and in control. ____________________________________________________________________ COUPLES COUNSELING You're frustrated with the cycle of arguing with your partner - it seems like you fight over the same things all the time, but nothing is ever resolved. Arguments are filled with defensiveness, criticism, and blaming. You wish you could have productive conversations where you both feel heard, understood, and validated. You deserve to feel safe enough to share vulnerable feelings without being pushed away or shut down. Humans are wired for connection. Laura helps partners feel and be more responsive, accessible, receptive, and connected to one another - learning to turn towards each other instead of away. If you're stuck or feeling blocked in your relationship, it's time for a change. Cycles are co-created by both partners, whether they're aware of it or not. The beautiful part is that both partners can make small changes that will completely shift the dynamic of the relationship, leading to greater satisfaction in the relationship. Laura is fully trained in and utilizes Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT) for couples counseling. Not only is this modality a structured and shorter-term type of therapy, but it also has a 70-75% success rate. What happens during EFCT? Identify unhelpful cycles in the way you and your partner interact with each other, as it occurs during the session, and understand the impact that this is having on the relationship. Examine and become more aware of your emotions - becoming better at identifying them in the moment. Become more aware of how emotions are triggered and how you behave when that happens. Express emotions and needs to each other more effectively, especially those which may be difficult to discuss. Listen, understand, and react more empathically to your partner’s expression of emotions. Better cope with difficult or intense emotions. Communicate with each other in more helpful ways. ____________________________________________________________________ MILITARY COUNSELING (Individual & Couples) As an Air Force veteran and military spouse of 18 years, Laura fully understand the unique challenges that our military members and spouses face; especially, the enormous amount stress and uncertainty. As a special THANK YOU for your service and sacrifice, she offers an exclusive discounted self pay rate to veterans, military members, and current military spouses (in both NJ and ID). For military members and their spouses who live on MHAFB, Laura also offers in-home sessions. ____________________________________________________________________ AVAILABILITY Telehealth sessions are available to clients in both Idaho and New Jersey Idaho: 9 am - 4 pm MST New Jersey: 11 am - 6 pm EST Weekend sessions are not available at this time. ____________________________________________________________________ COMPLIMENTARY PHONE CONSULTATION All potential new clients are offered a one-time, complimentary 15 minute consultation phone call. This is a great opportunity to briefly chat with Laura to learn more about how she operates and what you can expect during your work together. You can briefly describe what you're looking for and ask questions. There is ZERO obligation to schedule an additional session. In fact, clients get to decide whether or not they'd like to proceed. If clients decide it's not a good fit, Laura is more than happy to help provide referrals. CONSULTATION REQUESTS & CONFIRMATION Potential new clients are able to request a complimentary 15 minute consultation phone call through the online client portal. These are offered between the hours of 10 am - 2 pm MST only. In order for appointment requests to be approved, Laura will reach out via email to confirm. If potential new clients do not confirm their consultation request, the request will be cancelled. Laura will not call potential new clients for a consultation without their consent, which is why all requests must be confirmed. No confirmation = no consultation. ___________________________________________________________________ WHY PRIVATE PAY? A lot of clients would prefer to use insurance to pay for therapy, which is understandable! However, many clients would prefer to keep their personal health information private, which is why they choose to see a private pay clinician. Typically, insurance based providers need to diagnose clients with a psychiatric disorder in the very first session. Without a psychiatric diagnosis, insurance will not pay for therapy. There needs to be "medical necessity;" otherwise, insurance will not pay for therapy. When you work with Laura, there is no need for a diagnosis. In fact, many clients do not meet the diagnostic criteria for a psychiatric disorder. Laura does not like to pathologize clients who are going through real-life experiences and transitions. Furthermore, insurance does not pay for couples counseling - they don't believe it's a "medical necessity." If you've been to a couples counselor who did accept insurance, it is because one partner was the "identified patient" and carries a psychiatric diagnosis. When a provider contracts with an insurance company, the insurance company can dictate how frequently clients meet and for how long. Additionally, insurance companies want providers to use specific modalities of treatment. Yes, your insurance company can put limits on your treatment. Laura allows her clients to dictate how often, or little, they want to meet. She doesn't believe in a one-size-fits-all cookie cutter approach. Each client/couple is unique and deserves treatment specifically tailored to their needs. You might be asking yourself: How does the insurance company know I have a psychiatric diagnosis? What if I want my provider to use a different treatment modality? How does the insurance company know how often I meet? The unsettling answer is this: an in-network provider is required to send your psychiatric diagnosis, treatment plan, and session documentation to your insurance provider, and possibly your employer. When you use insurance to pay for therapy, you are essentially asking their permission. In return, they get access to your health information. What might they do with that information? How might it impact your future? For some clients, this is totally unacceptable. Clients deserve the right to choose who has access to their personal and private health information. Laura allows clients the freedom and autonomy to take their mental health care into their own hands. ____________________________________________________________________ EDUCATION Liberty University – School of Behavioral Sciences Master of Arts in Human Services Counseling: Life Coaching Spring 2021 Liberty University - School of Behavioral Sciences Master of Arts in Professional Counseling Fall 2019 University of Great Falls Bachelor of Arts in Psychology – Magna Cum Laude Major: Psychology Minor: Counseling Winter 2011 ___________________________________________________________________ Why wait when you can be seen this week? Appointments typically available within 48 business hours or less. Your next step is to send Laura an email or give her a call. Schedule your free 15 minute consultation phone call today!