Laura MacWhinnie

For the past 20+ years, I have been honored and called to witness and participate in the healing others learn to offer themselves through relationship, awareness, compassion, resiliency, insight, action, and accountability.   I am acutely aware of the human in human services, and I work to build trust in the therapeutic relationship to create safety for the healthy risk taking and facing of fears that therapy involves in order to create a more fulfilled life. 

I have worked as a therapist in substance use treatment for many years, seeing the countless ways that this disease robs people of their true selves, and I have also witnessed the countless “miracles” as new choices, actions, and beliefs fostered sustainable change and self-acceptance that are at the heart of recovery. I have also supported and held space as relationships changed and ended when that was the work, offering compassion and skills to feel and grow through deeply painful experiences and trauma.  I have learned how recovery is a part of everyone’s growth, as none will pass through this life untouched or without scars.  My work brings respect, safety, and dignity to the process of facing those scares and pain to move through them, reaching a more solid, known, and centered self.  

My practice includes use of CBT, DBT, Motivational Interviewing and Complex Trauma Techniques which allow me to partner with you and collaborate toward reaching your goals. I bring deep respect to this work, and use humor and directness to compliment the process of your building acceptance, skills and understanding as actions of healing.  I offer a nurturing, compassionate, and safe space as you build confidence, and/or address behaviors or stuck patterns that are no longer serving your highest good so you may assess and better understand your needs and what drives your behaviors towards your achieving your goals.  I believe we have an internal ‘knowing’ that may lead us to therapy, and I believe in the growing of that connection to oneself to inform the healing work that provides you the tools to change your life.