Where healing begins and hope is found
Meet Dr. Lauren Schaefer
Welcome to Hope and Healing Therapy Center, I am so glad you have found me. I'm Dr. Lauren Schaefer, a clinical psychologist with a passion for working with sensitive, deep-feeling women who often appear high-functioning on the outside but feel overwhelmed, exhausted, or lost on the inside. Whether you're navigating anxiety, OCD, ADHD, autism, depression, perfectionism, panic disorder, trauma, or burnout, my goal is to meet you exactly where you are—with warmth, compassion, and evidence-based tools that truly fit you.
My ultimate passion in life is supporting others through their tough times and helping them regain hope by creating a life worth living. I work from a place of empathy, compassion, and non-judgment to develop a safe and trusting therapeutic relationship with my clients. Clients describe me as calm, gentle, validating, and deeply present.
My approach to therapy is client-centered and strengths-based. Based on your goals, I will pull from various empirically supported treatments (e.g., ACT, CBT, DBT, ERP) to deliver tailored evidence-based psychotherapy with compassionate care. I bring a neurodiversity-affirming and trauma-informed lens to our work, and I care just as much about how we work together as what we work on. I believe healing happens in the moments you feel safe, seen, and supported—not rushed or judged.
If you’ve spent a lifetime trying to “hold it all together,” masking your pain, or putting everyone else’s needs before your own… this space is for you. Whether you are someone who always shows up, someone who gives deeply and listens between the lines, or someone who feels the weight others carry and wants to help lighten it, I’m here to support you on your journey to a balanced life. I’ll help you untangle perfectionism, set boundaries without guilt, and reconnect with the version of you that feels most true.
I know how hard it is to ask for help. But you don’t have to do this alone. Together, we’ll move toward a life that feels more grounded, authentic, and sustainable—for the long haul.
Please see the “Services” tab for more details about the services I offer and feel free to contact me with any questions.
Client Testimonials
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“Lauren you have helped me so much. I have learned more about myself in the past year than I have in the past 10 years. It has been an incredible journey with you and I wouldn’t be who I am today if it weren’t for you. Thank you for everything, I will miss you! Here’s to hoping our paths cross again one day in the future, you’re awesome.”
“I cannot express enough gratitude towards Dr. Lauren. She truly has a gift for helping and has made a real difference. I feel so at home with her, and so does my son. She is so relatable and understanding, kind and empathetic, and always going above and beyond to provide the best care.”
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I would gladly recommend Lauren to anyone seeking therapy or on the fence about whether therapy is right for them. I was apprehensive about whether to seek therapy. However, I found my life and mental health in a dark place. Lauren was very kind and compassionate as she led me through solutions and strategies in order to help me through my depression. It was easy to open up to her as she is so compassionate and understanding. I enjoyed that she acknowledged my pain and led me through strategies during sessions in order to regain my mental health. She went further to provide resources and at-home exercises to help outside of our sessions. Many of the strategies and resources she gave me, I still use today. I have so much gratitude to Lauren and for how she helped change my life.
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“Lauren has played such an integral role in coaching me through some of the most difficult situations I have experienced as a parent. I couldn’t be more thankful for all she has done and continues to do, which goes well above and beyond her duties. I highly recommend her and her skill set to anyone needing a mental health professional.”
“Lauren is an expert at creating a safe, warm, and inviting environment. She also helped me develop tools to manage the depressive and anxious symptoms I was experiencing. Lauren helped settle some of my anxieties about therapy and repair some damage done by past mental health professionals. I wouldn't hesitate to work with her again!!”
