Today we’d like to introduce you to Laurie Markham.
Hi Laurie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Social justice has always been a primary concern for me. My first job was as a therapist in a crisis intervention program in public mental health. Meeting with families in their homes and communities, I became aware of how societal injustices could manifest in psychiatric conditions. I also realized how easily mental health professionals could inadvertently do harm through forms of treatment that failed to take into account the broader contexts of people’s suffering.
My passion has always been to practice a form of therapy that recognizes how external factors, such as economic and political conditions and cultural discourses (e.g., patriarchy, heteronormativity, white privilege, capitalism), shape people’s lives and relationships. I draw heavily from narrative therapy, an approach that aims to dismantle problematic stories that people have about themselves. Some of these stories, especially those influenced by dominant discourses and power relations, tend to diminish our identities and minimize what we have to be proud of. Good therapy assists people in creating and substantiating new accounts of themselves that restore their self-worth and foster hope. Mental health can either objectify and label people ‘deficient,’ or it can find people’s competencies and support their extraordinary efforts to resist the influence of problems. There are always exceptions to a person being utterly defeated, and we owe it to people to find them.
So much of my skill as a therapist can be credited to my five-year collaboration with narrative therapy co-founder, David Epston, and my partner at the time, David Marsten. In 2016, we published a book called, Narrative Therapy in Wonderland about working with children and their families. The book, combined with other publications I co-authored on feminist therapy, couples therapy, and the supervision of new therapists, led to opportunities to present around the world. Training front-line workers at the first NGO to provide mental health services to families with disabled children in Mumbai, India was one of the most meaningful experiences of my career. So was traveling to Istanbul, Turkey to collaborate with Muslim colleagues attempting to adapt therapy practices to fit with local cultural and religious traditions.
After leaving public mental health, I took a job with UCLA’s behavioral health associates, helping to make therapy more accessible by working in-network with major insurance companies. Around the same time, I created and ran a Medi-Cal program at Miracle Mile Community Practice, a non-profit counseling center, addressing a need for high-quality services for low-income individuals and families. Drawing from all of these experiences, I taught several graduate courses that prepared future therapists and counselors for their practicum experiences where they would be meeting with clients for the first time.
When I became a mother in 2017, as much as I valued my career, I knew I wanted to slow down. I decided to forgo teaching, at least for the time being, and focus on building a private practice, which would allow me flexible hours and more time with my son. I stayed true to my roots, continuing to see clients of limited financial means and offsetting their lower fees with a handful of clients who could afford to pay more. For the first time, I had a great work-life balance. But in 2018, things took a turn, and my marriage ended abruptly in divorce. I was forced to reevaluate, among many things, how I navigated my career.
Looking back, it was the most challenging time of my life. In addition to dealing with the emotional difficulties of divorce, I was very worried about how our family would survive the transition financially. No one enters a helping profession thinking, “I can’t wait to be rich.” In fact, prior to becoming a therapist, I had been a high school teacher for 10 years. Making money had never been a primary goal. But the financial reality of being a divorced mother in Los Angeles hit me hard. I knew I had to recruit more full-fee clients in order to afford the structure of my new life. And so I came up with a plan to move my office to a higher rent location. I networked with colleagues in the neighborhood. And I began increasing my income, one client at a time.
I think there’s a misconception that private practice therapists see a small number of clients, charge a fortune, and live mindful, well-balanced lives. I’m sure some do. But that’s not been my reality…or my style! While I have greatly increased the number of clients who can afford my full fee, I continue to see folks of lesser financial means. I believe accessing good therapy, including in-person sessions in a comfortable setting, shouldn’t break the bank. Working on a sliding scale means I generally work more hours than the average therapist in order to meet my financial goals. It’s definitely a hustle. I rarely have time for self-care—I know, I know. But the truth is, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Days without my son are lonely. They go by faster and are more fulfilling when I’m engaged in my work. Being a therapist affords a profound sense of connectedness to others that vastly enhances my life. There’s no denying your own humanity—and our shared humanity—when you’re sitting across from someone who’s telling you everything…their joys and triumphs, their darkest moments, their deepest fears. Seeing more clients per week has also helped me grow my skills as a therapist much faster. If Malcolm Gladwell’s ’10,000 hours rule’ has any merit, I’ve become an expert twice over.
Contrary to the recent shift toward integrating technology into therapy, as well as the increasing demand for ‘tool-based’ sessions, I’ve stayed true to my narrative roots, preferring the kinds of conversations that emphasize rich characterization over ‘skill building.’ I believe it is a basic human right to be given a chance to see oneself—and to be seen by others—with the same depth and love we feel for our favorite protagonists in film and literature. It’s often in the midst of tragedy or hardship that we find characters at their finest and most appealing. In moments of crisis, we see what they stand for, we admire their virtues, we see ourselves in their flaws…and we love them for who they are. For people to experience themselves as equally compelling, it takes a therapist being invested in discovering and tracing the lineage of greatnesses and not just the history and prevalence of problems within an individual, couple, or family. Sometimes people ask me, “Isn’t it depressing being a therapist and listening to people’s problems all day?” I understand why they ask. I do hear a lot of heartbreaking stories. But as I listen, I’m not just tracking what’s happened to someone and the impact. I’m also tracking the actions they’ve taken, the intentions they carry, the ethics they embody…and all of those qualities that make them remarkable. They’re always there. And that’s a beautiful aspect of my job.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Laurie Markham, LMFT?
I have a private practice in Larchmont Village, where I provide therapy to individuals, couples, and families. I treat people for a variety of problems, including anxiety, depression, grief, and transitions throughout the lifespan.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
It takes an incredible amount of dedication and study to master one’s craft. I was fortunate to have strong mentors, who ushered me into the field and taught me what they know.
Pricing:
- $50-250 per session
Contact Info:
