Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Deliberato.
Lauren, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My story to becoming a practicing therapist has definitely had some twists and turns. I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations which I quickly realized I wasn’t going to use. I knew I wanted to be in a helping profession and despite the fact that I had always sworn I would never go to grad school, I decided to apply for a Master’s program in Community Counseling. I graduated in 2011, went on to work in a few jobs outside of the field, moved across the country and had a baby. Once the dust cleared I was able to go back to work as a therapist at the Healing Arts Counseling Center.
I see individuals dealing with a variety of issues but my area of focus is in maternal mental health. I see a lot of expectant and new mothers who are dealing with perinatal anxiety and/or depression, birth trauma and issues like adjusting to new roles within the family, relationship changes, identity exploration, etc. The transition to motherhood is so complex! As a mother myself, my eyes have been opened to how challenging taking on this role can be, which is why this area of focus is so important to me. Working with mothers is truly one of the greatest highlights of my work.
I also am honored to lead a bi-monthly postpartum support group with The Doulas of Orange County called Balance After Baby, where we discuss many of the issues previously mentioned.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
My career has been a slow evolution and the path has certainly not been linear. I’ve dealt with so many challenges along the way, particularly because of two major moves we made over the last 5 years. I’ve had to weed through a lot of red tape because of a lack of licensing reciprocity between states. I won’t bore you with the details but that in and of itself created huge roadblocks along the way.
Once practicing, I had to grow and maintain my client base which takes time and patience. There is a lot of instability in the beginning and you have to be able to weather the ups and downs. The experience has helped me learn let go of control a little bit and trust my instincts and abilities as a clinician.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Healing Arts Counseling Center story. Tell us more about the business.
I work as a primary therapist for a group practice called the Healing Arts Counseling Center in Lake Forest. I see clients dealing with a variety of challenges like anxiety, depression, eating disorders, self-esteem issues, relationship issues, infertility, and more. My area of focus is in maternal mental health. I see a lot of women, typically during their pregnancies and/or the postpartum period. There is a wide spectrum of issues my mama clients come to see me with including: perinatal depression and anxiety, trauma or complex feelings surrounding birth, difficulty adjusting to motherhood, identity changes, and role changes within the family.
I am proud to hold a safe space for clients to process and create change. People often come to counseling for the first time nervous to share their stories but I believe that my warmth, ability to deeply empathize and validate their experiences, helps ease that tension. I also am truly myself during the sessions, quirks and all, which I think makes me more relatable and helps strengthen the relationship.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I think I’ve experienced a bit of both along the way. Perhaps, good luck and bad timing. I have always felt very lucky in life and many of the things I’ve wanted have come easily. Developing my identity as a therapist and growing a practice that I’m proud has not been a smooth path. However, it’s created opportunities for personal growth. Who would I be if everything in life came too easily? I think I value my professional identity that much more because it took persistence.
Contact Info:
- Address: 22706 Aspan Suite 702
Lake Forest, CA 92630 - Website: www.laurendeliberato.com
- Phone: 949-427-0103
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mama.therapy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therapywithlauren
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
