Laura Appleton, LMHC (she/her)

“Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable.”— Mary Oliver

Before becoming a therapist, I spent over 15 years working in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry. That still shapes how I see mental health – through biology, the nervous system, and the environments we grow up in.

At the same time, I’ve always been drawn to deeper questions – about life, the universe, and what makes us the way we are.

Like many of the women I work with, I’ve been pulled toward both science and things that
feel meaningful, intuitive, or even a little synchronistic. Over time, I explored different ways
of making sense of myself – through formal training, personal experience, and body-based practices. Some of it grounded me, some of it pushed me way outside my comfort zone – but
all of it shapes how I work now.

How I Work

I don’t see what you’re going through as something to fix. It’s not random, and it’s not a flaw – it’s a response to what you’ve experienced. When we start to look at where it came from and what it’s been trying to do, things begin to make more sense.

A lot of it traces back to what shaped you – the world that existed around you, and how your nervous system learned to respond. When you start to see those patterns more clearly, and realize they were learned, things begin to shift – not by forcing change, but by looking at things in a different way.

In Session

Sessions are a place to slow things down and be real about what’s actually going on.

We pay attention to what’s coming up in real time – what you’re thinking, how you’re reacting, what feels familiar. Over time, you start to see what’s been driving things – and it doesn’t feel as confusing or hard to navigate.

We might use tools like journaling, body scans, meditation, or even tarot and oracle cards if they feel helpful – it’s always up to you. The cards aren’t about prediction – they’re just another way of looking at things, noticing what stands out, and gaining insight.

Inclusivity

I am committed to providing an inclusive, affirming space for clients of all identities, including LGBTQIA2S+ individuals and those from diverse cultural and racial backgrounds.

This work is grounded in respect, curiosity, and an awareness of how larger systems and lived experiences shape mental health.