Lauren Engelhard MA, LPC, NCC

For many folx with marginalized identities, therapy may have been a space where further harm was done. In session, we can process oppression that you have experienced in your life and explore how you intersectional identities impact how you move through the world. Each culture is different in how the role of family, boundaries, partners, asking for help, and more are viewed, and you can show up in therapy with the expectation that these things are understood without judgment.

It can be challenging to find competent therapeutic support while poly and/or ethically non-monogamous. As your therapist, I'm able to provide a warm, non-judgmental space for you to process the joys and challenges of your relationship/s, communicate and explore boundaries for yourself and partner/s, process feelings of compersion and jealousy, and work through challenges in attachment as they occur for you, your partner/s, your metamours, and/or your polycule.

Whether you're questioning your identity or have known for what feels like forever, I'm able to offer support as you navigating topics like gender identity, changing pronouns, going through the legal name-change process, internalized and external bi/homo/transphobia, family acceptance, coming out, dating, sexual practices and concerns, and intersectional identities and marginalization within and outside of the queer community.

My training at Northwestern's Master of Counseling program was psychodynamically focused. One of the biggest ways this shows up in my work is that I really value understanding my clients with the whole context of their life and aim to resolve past conflicts in order to improve current functioning. While I do sometimes utilize tools like CBT worksheets, I firmly believe that it is important to heal and process our inner wounds, and not just put band-aids on them. (Don't worry - No Freud!)

My work truly is eclectic - I am not a purist in any one type of therapy or theory. I believe that pulling from many different sources and tailoring my approach to each client and their needs makes for more effective therapy sessions.

Attachment theory offers some understanding for the dynamics and patterns we see in our relationships and within ourselves. Knowing how you show up in this way means that you can learn how to better communicate your needs, boundaries, and feel more secure in your relationships. And it can help you learn what's going to work better to resolve conflict with partner/s or other individuals in your life.