Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Auldridge.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up in a loving and supportive home and have wonderful memories of sports and traveling with my family to look back on. However, at the age of 15, I experienced a significant trauma and was not provided the therapeutic resources to appropriately heal. To be honest, I felt pretty alone. Fast forwarding to high school, I had the opportunity to take a college-level psychology course which kickstarted my interest in counseling; I found myself wondering, “If only I had someone to talk to back then, would I have tried to heal in the unhealthy ways I did?”. This is where my passion grew of helping people not feel alone in their struggles. From there, I went on to get a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Kansas State University and a master’s degree in counseling from Dallas Theological Seminary. After postgraduate, I became a licensed professional counselor and have been specializing in trauma ever since. I have worked with adolescents that are victims of abuse as well as in inpatient and residential treatment facilities and am currently clinical director of Ellie Mental Health-Mckinney. We have one office opening in April and then will be opening two locations in Prosper. We offer therapy for children and adults of all ages and walks of life. At Ellie Mental Health, our mission is to break the stigma surrounding mental health care and make it no different than going to the doctor, dentist or venting to a friend. Working with Ellie and in the behavioral health industry, I bring peace to others, along with my younger self, and I wouldn’t change a thing.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Counseling is tough! There have been plenty of silent drives home after hearing of child abuse cases, deaths, grief, and betrayal that make it tough to “shut it off.” I have found myself on the other end of the couch getting my own counseling many times but that’s normal…. that’s being human. After a tough case, I hug my kids just a little tighter and am reminded from the couples I counsel to constantly be pouring into my own marriage. I have definitely cried with my fair share of clients and embraced them not as their counselor but as human-to-human hurting for them. Counseling is the hardest but most rewarding way of giving back to others I have experienced, and I embrace not letting others go through their pain alone.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Ellie Mental Health-Mckinney?
Ellie Mental Health is at 175 Ridge Road #200 in Mckinney and we offer counseling services for kids and adults of all ages and walks of life. We accept most major insurances and offer play therapy, individual therapy, couples, and family therapy along with group therapy in a super modern and cozy office. We are going to be opening two additional location in Prosper in the coming year as well. I am most excited for groups we are going to be offering adolescents and adults on anxiety, self-esteem, grief support, trauma, self care and an array of other helpful topics.
What matters most to you?
The journey. Being able to encourage someone to experience their own healing and for them to know they don’t have to do it alone. I help them focus on the glimmer of light in the storm, until it passes, or doesn’t seem so scary.
Pricing:
- Accepting all major insurance or self-pay rate of $140 per hour.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://
elliementalhealth.com/ locations/Mckinney-tx/ - Phone Number: 469-833-2247
- Email: Lauldridge@elliementalhealth.
com
