Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Penner.
Lauren, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in Dallas, Texas, specializing in trauma, grief, and the LGBTQIA+ community. My story starts in a tight-knit, rural Texas community where trauma-informed mental health was not at the forefront of the collective conscience. I witnessed the impact of lack of trauma-informed mental health education first-hand, which led me to be curious about psychology. My own experiences with therapy inform my passion for providing a space for others to experience empathic, professional support. These experiences sparked my career trajectory of going into private practice.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Trauma disproportionately affects marginalized populations where access to trauma-informed care may be lacking. For many in the communities that need it most, therapy is an unaffordable privilege. In a ripple effect of these barriers to care, exploitation of the education, time, and expertise of mental health providers is a major systemic concern which contribute to burnout. The journey to therapist licensure is a long one, requiring (quite literally) thousands of un- or low-paid hours of emotional labor. The biggest challenge as a business owner in this field is trying to shoulder broader systemic issues that I cannot single-handedly fix, making advocacy an important part to the work.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I am the owner of Lauren Penner Therapy, PLLC in Dallas, Texas, where I specialize in childhood trauma, religious trauma, grief, and the LGBTQIA+ community. I am Licensed Professional Counselor certified in Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) by the EMDR International Association with training focused in complex trauma and dissociation. I also have additional training in child-centered play therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, racial trauma, sexual abuse, and LGBTQIA+ community needs.
I am also looking forward to offering ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) in 2024. Ketamine is a legal, safe, rapidly acting, and effective medicine for depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Ketamine catalyzes the brain to form new synaptic connections, boost neural circuits, and enhance overall neuroplasticity. KAP harnesses the safety of a therapeutic relationship in conjunction with the effects of medicinal treatment for lasting change. For individuals interested and KAP, please contact me to grab a spot on my waiting list.
In addition to therapy, I prioritize opportunities for advocacy and public speaking on the topics of mental health and trauma.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @laurenpennertherapy
- Twitter: laurenpennerlpc
Image Credits
Madeline Faye Photograph
