Lauren Ball, LCSW

Lauren Ball is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in California with 21 years of clinical experience supporting individuals, couples, and families through life transitions, relationship challenges, parenting concerns, substance use issues, and trauma. She works with a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, family conflict, adoption and foster care matters, caregiver stress, chronic illness, codependency, infidelity, and work or career difficulties.

Her style emphasizes practical, strengths-based work in the here and now, partnering with clients to identify realistic goals and measurable steps toward change. Lauren focuses on solutions that fit each person's circumstances, offering concrete strategies rather than clinical jargon, and she will draw on past experience only when it helps reveal patterns or beliefs that affect current functioning. Progress is tracked collaboratively so goals can be adjusted as needed.

As an LCSW - a Licensed Clinical Social Worker - she has advanced training in clinically oriented social work and therapeutic practice. In addition to core clinical skills she has advanced training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), the Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM), and Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS), which inform her approach to emotion regulation, trauma-related difficulties, and practical problem solving.

Evidence-Based Approaches and Online Care

Lauren Ball draws on several proven therapeutic approaches that translate well to remote sessions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors by teaching practical skills for managing anxiety, low mood, and stress. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and improved interpersonal effectiveness - tools that are useful for managing intense emotions and relationship difficulties. Trauma-Focused Therapy concentrates on recognizing and addressing the impact of traumatic experiences, with techniques aimed at reducing trauma-related symptoms and improving day-to-day coping.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Lauren works with each person to explore which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences, adjusting the plan as progress is made so therapy stays focused and relevant.

Online therapy options - including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging - offer flexibility for busy schedules, caregiving responsibilities, or limited mobility. These formats make it easier to maintain continuity of care, access timely support, and practice skills between sessions with licensed professionals and therapists who can adapt methods to the online setting.