Clinical Staff: Lauren Franklin

Lauren Franklin

Hello! I am an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist with a passion for helping individuals and families feel understood, supported, and empowered as they navigate life’s challenges. I earned my bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Irvine, where I double majored in Psychological Sciences and Criminology, Law and Society. I later earned my Master of Science in Counseling with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from California State University, Fullerton.

I gained clinical experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families from a variety of cultural backgrounds and life experiences, including immigrants and LGBTQ+ individuals. I have supported clients navigating anxiety, depression, PTSD and complex trauma, family and relationship difficulties, life transitions, and other stressors. I also have experience supporting individuals with Autism and ADHD.

Overall, I consider myself an integrative therapist and adapt my approach to each client’s individual needs, experiences, strengths, and stage of life. I naturally gravitate toward psychodynamic and person-centered approaches while also incorporating evidence-based techniques such as CBT, psychoeducation, mindfulness, and grounding. I believe the foundation of therapy is creating a space where clients feel safe, understood, and accepted. Building that trust allows us to explore not only present challenges but also the deeper experiences that may be contributing to them. I often explore how childhood experiences, attachment, family dynamics, and past wounds can shape the way we think, feel, and relate to others today. By combining this deeper exploration with practical coping skills, my goal is to help clients better understand themselves, recognize patterns in their lives, and make meaningful changes moving forward.

Outside of therapy, I am a mother and artist who loves traveling and spending time with friends and family. Creativity and connection are important parts of who I am, and they naturally influence how I approach therapy. As an artist, I believe creative expression can offer another way to process experiences, explore emotions, and uncover insights that may be difficult to access through conversation alone. Above all, I strive to bring warmth, curiosity, and compassion into the therapeutic space and meet each client wherever they are in their journey.