Laura Scales, LMFT

Laura Scales brings a hands-on, life-informed approach to therapy informed by a variety of earlier careers and real-world experiences. She trained in marriage and family therapy at Argosy University in Denver and completed a practicum at West Springs Psychiatric Hospital, then worked in a community mental health outpatient clinic where she served as an intake clinician and provided individual and group therapy. As an LMFT - Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - she now operates a private practice in Colorado and works with individuals, couples, and families to address relationship concerns, grief, anger, self-esteem, depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, LGBT issues, family dynamics, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, parenting, career questions, and bipolar disorder.

Before becoming a therapist, Laura spent years in roles that centered on caring for others and helping people grow - from working as a home health aide supporting people with chronic illness and severe disabilities to teaching rock climbing, ice climbing, sea kayaking, and swimming to diverse students, and coordinating activities in a senior living community. Those experiences shaped her belief that life’s unexpected changes can be painful and also transformational.

Laura draws on evidence-based methods such as Internal Family Systems, cognitive behavioral techniques, and dialectical behavioral strategies, adapting them with solution-focused and strength-based practices to meet each client’s unique needs. She emphasizes client empowerment, seeing each person as the expert on their life, and aims to create a nonjudgmental space where problems can be explored and practical steps toward healthier relationships and greater well-being can be developed. When not working, she seeks renewal in the natural world, a value reflected in her approach to presence and resilience, a perspective also shaped by personal pursuits such as climbing Mt. Aconcagua to 22,837 ft.

Evidence-Based Methods and the Convenience of Online Care

Laura Scales uses several evidence-based approaches adapted for online work. Internal Family Systems helps people map their internal parts and develop a compassionate relationship with different aspects of themselves - this approach can be useful for trauma, conflicted emotions, and relational patterns. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression and to improve coping skills. Dialectical behavioral therapy teaches practical skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, which can be especially helpful for intense emotions and relationship conflicts.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is a collaborative process. Laura partners with clients to explore which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, and she adapts techniques over time as progress and challenges emerge. Clients are treated as experts on their lives while the therapist offers guidance and evidence-informed tools.

Online therapy with Laura is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care during busy periods, life transitions, or when in-person visits are not convenient, while allowing licensed professionals to provide consistent therapeutic support.