Lauren Oates, LPCC

Lauren Oates is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) based in Kentucky who brings five years of experience working with individuals and families. She spent recent years providing therapy through a non-profit community mental health organization, supporting people facing a range of challenges and transitions.

Her practice emphasizes a person-centered, strength-based approach that treats the client as the expert in their own life. Lauren adapts therapy to each person rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model, focusing on goals that matter to the individual and using their existing strengths to promote healthier functioning beyond simply addressing symptoms.

Lauren also offers art therapy for clients who find creative expression helpful for exploring feelings or making sense of difficult experiences. The process of creating can offer another route to insight and relief when words alone are not enough.

She frames mental health as an important part of overall health and encourages seeking support the same way one would for any other medical need. Lauren welcomes inquiries from those who are considering therapy, including people who may feel hesitant, and aims to help them take practical steps toward improved wellbeing.

Therapeutic approaches and flexible online care

Lauren integrates client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and mindfulness-based techniques into online sessions. Client-centered therapy focuses on listening closely and shaping sessions around the client’s priorities, helping people work through life changes, relationship concerns, and decisions at their own pace. CBT looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact and offers practical strategies to reduce distress and build coping skills for issues such as anxiety, depression, and stress. Mindfulness-based methods teach attention to the present moment and can support emotion regulation, stress management, and increased self-awareness.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Lauren treats that choice as collaborative. She works with each person to identify goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful, adjusting methods over time as needs evolve.

Online therapy offers flexibility and accessibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, maintain continuity during life transitions, and access support from wherever the client is located within the therapist’s service area.