Hi, my name is Laura Handley and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy Associate (LMFTA). I attended the University of California, Davis for my undergraduate work, where I majored in Sociology and minored in Psychology. I completed my master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Touro University Worldwide. 

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I have a passion for helping people and in the therapeutic space I strive to provide a warm and supportive environment for children, adolescents, adults and couples to navigate all phases of life. I believe that healthy relationships are often the key to improved mental health. With a person-centered and humanistic approach, I work to help clients achieve their desired goals and be the best versions of themselves. 

 

I support couples in several aspects of relationship, including learning to communicate more effectively, navigate difficult transitions or decisions, and repairing lost connection in their partnership. I also support couples through family planning, pregnancy, and postpartum. I utilize both Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Gottman Method techniques when helping couples to regain and sustain strong and healthy dynamics. I believe that couples at any age and stage can find benefits, from pre-marital counseling to parenting strategies to healthy boundaries and so much more.

 

I also have experience working with individuals and families through behavioral concerns, trauma and life stressors, emerging adulthood, challenges with self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and other mental health needs. As a parent myself, I can relate to the struggles of raising children and I come alongside parents to give them the tools to be successful, especially in times of life transition or trauma.  Additionally, I have training in perinatal mood disorders through Postpartum Support International. I enjoy working with individuals and families through the perinatal journey, from family planning, to pregnancy, postpartum, and overall family adjustment during this time. 

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The work of building healthy relationships, as well as processing and repairing the wounds of past relational hurt, can lead to healing and thriving in our own lives. With each individual and family, my goal is to understand, educate, facilitate, and support you in whatever you are hoping to achieve. While I pull from a variety of therapeutic approaches, I have specific training to incorporate elements of Internal Family Systems therapy. 

 

Laura is available for in-person appointments and can offer telehealth appointments for individuals residing in North Carolina.