Lorraine Harpur

Therapy is not linear, whether the relationship is between a client and self, client and therapist, intimate partners, or a family; the therapy I offer is through a biopsychosocial systems oriented and evidenced-based approach. It gives my life great meaning to guide individuals, couples, and families to work toward their fullest potential. I strive to maintain a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for my clients, while creating a strong therapeutic relationship. I embody a warm, caring, and compassionate approach to therapy. During my graduate training I had the opportunity to work in a primary care setting where I collaborated with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers to provide comprehensive patient care. Over the last few years, I have turned my focus toward working with clients using an attachment based, emotionally focused lens. Attachment theory views human beings, including adults as having a natural and adaptive need for maintaining contact with a safe other. Through an attachment perspective, John Bowlby posits, “survival of the most nurtured”. Adults need just as much care, attunement, and nurturing as a young child. To crave this attachment does not make one weak or sensitive, this craving is built into our biology and might be considered essential for survival. Having one secure attachment figure, allows us to feel safe going out into the world to take risks. I offer my clients a compassionate, non-judgmental space for them to find new connections with themselves and others. Through brief mindfulness exercises and breath work I invite clients to give their nervous system the calm healing that it deserves. After spending a decade managing college age students and navigating difficult clientele at a private beach resort, I decided to further my education around human relationships. I received a master’s degree in Individual, Marital, and Family therapy from the University of San Diego in Southern California. In my free time I enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling, reading, yoga, biking, hiking, and just being in nature (especially water, when available)!