Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Fractor.
Hi Lauren, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
In May of 2018, I was feeling lonely, lost, and yearning for more female friendships. Previously, I had met many of my friends through school and throughout the years, saw friends move away and people come and go. I found myself having difficulty meeting people in real life and thought what better way to create connection and community than through social media, specifically Facebook. I originally posted my Facebook group in another group based out of LA and over the next few years my group of 50 original members grew to 2,000 and in October 2020 I renamed my group to “Ladies of Los Angeles”. In the past few years, that number grew from 2,000 to over 21,000 and counting, which reminded me that others wanted these connections too. This past September, I decided to turn my group into a business and while I am still figuring out the direction I want to take it, I have recognized that I have a natural passion for leadership and creating community. My group hosts meetups and other members host them as well and through online connection and in-person connection, other women are finding their community in Los Angeles.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been one of the best endeavors I have personally been apart of and also one of the most emotionally taxing experiences as well. Influencers can probably attest to this, but I think I was least prepared for the rude and hurtful comments that have been messaged to me and my moderators. We try our best to have rules and ethics for the group and some members do not want to comply. The most challenging experience in running a popular Facebook group is juggling multiple roles (myself, my job as a therapist, and as a group member) while still trying to be professional and welcoming. It can be hard to be professional when some members are cruel and hurtful, but then I remember that this is just part of the human experience and it is ok to not always have the answer and to take breaks. Since I am a therapist and my moderators are also part of mental health, we come at challenges with an empathetic lens and sometimes that means having to be assertive and firm in our decisions, and not everyone likes that! Luckily, I am supported by my moderators and by so many wonderful members, which makes the challenges less challenging and more exciting!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a licensed marriage and family therapist and work with teens and adults with a wide range of mental health challenges. I specialize in working with these populations, specifically how to support those who are struggling with anxiety, social anxiety, relationships, and priorities. A lot of my professional work spills into my position as a group admin of Ladies of Los Angeles and continues to help reinforce the idea that everyone is looking for support and community. I am most proud of being able to help others succeed, feel balanced, and thrive in their lives and am always rooting for my clients to be their true and authentic selves. I also have a podcast with one of my friends from graduate school that focuses on mental health topics called “Dope Sh*t My Therapist Says”. We have had guests on from various facets of media focusing on their mental health challenges and have highlighted mental health in a more genuine and open way. One of the unique qualities I have as a person and as a therapist, is my ability to be open, empathic, and honest with clients and I have always had an easy time connecting with a majority of people; another quality that is important as a group admin and leader.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Everything I have done in my life is risk-taking to some degree. From moving out of state to attend college to deciding I wanted to become a therapist, even creating Ladies of Los Angeles and keeping it afloat for almost 5 years has been risky. I absolutely encourage others to take risks and follow their goals and aspirations. It can be challenging to feel confident in your abilities to try something new, take that dream job or move somewhere unfamiliar, but without risk-taking, where would any of us be? I know that fear can get in the way, but if you are meant to do something, you will do it and you will do it well.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ladies_of_losangeles
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ladiesoflosangeles
Image Credits
Julia Harris
