Laurie Richardson, LMFT

Laurie Richardson returned to graduate school at midlife to train as a therapist, bringing with her a broad life and professional background. She has experience as a parent, a preschool teacher, a seventh grade Waldorf teacher, an art instructor, a graphic designer, a copyrighter, and an art consultant for more than 20 years, and she blends those perspectives into her therapeutic work.

Her academic path included studies at UCLA, San Jose State, Sacramento State, a Waldorf training college, and the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco. Laurie is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT, and is listed as CA LMFT 132096. She frames therapy around listening, respect, and tailoring each plan to the individual in front of her.

Laurie favors Person-Centered approaches because she believes people know themselves best and benefit when given practical tools and new perspectives. She is also an EXA therapist, incorporating Expressive Arts into the healing process. That work can include poetry, rap, photography, 2D and 3D art, dance, sculpture, writing, drama, music, gardening, cooking, and eco-art, using creative expression as an additional means to explore meaning and progress.

Her sessions are intentionally interactive and may feature games, art, meditation, laughter, and emotionally meaningful moments. Laurie is attentive and empathetic, asking thoughtful questions while supporting clients through a range of experiences including relationship challenges, grief, parenting concerns, stress and anxiety, addiction, trauma, depression, and life transitions. She sees clients both via telehealth and in person and aims to be present, listening, acknowledging, and helping clients move forward in whatever form their next chapter takes.

Laurie welcomes conversations about whether her style and background are a good fit and looks forward to chatting soon.