Laurie Richardson, LMFT

Laurie Richardson shifted into the helping professions at midlife, returning to graduate school to train as a therapist after a long career in education and the arts. She combines decades of experience as a parent, preschool teacher, 7th grade Waldorf teacher, art instructor, graphic designer and copyrighter, and over 20 years as an art consultant with focused clinical training from institutions including UCLA, San Jose State, Sacramento State, a Waldorf training college, and the California Institute of Integral Studies.

As a licensed clinician with the LMFT credential - Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - she centers her work on listening deeply and tailoring treatment to the person in front of her. Her approach draws on person-centered values, expressive arts methods, and practical tools designed to foster insight and movement through life changes. Sessions often include creative practices such as photography, writing, movement, and visual art alongside conversation, meditation, and interactive exercises.

Laurie works with a wide range of concerns including relationships, grief, parenting, self-esteem, coping with life changes, stress and anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, intimacy issues, sleep difficulties, anger, depression, ADHD, and family dynamics. She aims to be present, supportive, and empowering as clients explore their next chapter. She offers both telehealth and in-person options and welcomes the opportunity to begin a conversation about goals and possibilities.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Laurie Richardson uses client-centered therapy to create a compassionate, nonjudgmental space where the client’s perspective guides the work. This approach emphasizes empathy and collaboration and helps with relationship concerns, self-esteem, grief, and navigating life transitions.

She also integrates mindfulness therapy, which teaches present-moment awareness and simple practices to reduce reactivity and manage anxiety, stress, and difficult emotions. In addition, Laurie draws on solution-focused therapy to help identify practical steps and immediate strategies for change when clients want concrete tools to address problems like sleep issues, parenting challenges, or coping with life changes.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Laurie works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences, adjusting the plan as progress unfolds.

Online therapy with Laurie is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, which makes scheduling more flexible and accessible for busy lives or for clients outside her region. These formats allow licensed professionals and therapists to maintain continuity of care while adapting session style to what works best for each client.