Lara Winter (She/Her/Hers)

My Approach to Helping

Making the decision to begin/resume therapy is often quite difficult; feeling as though you have to find the right therapist can be even more challenging. A primary element of my approach in supporting clients is to deeply, and unconditionally believe in them, their abilities, and their goals - especially when it becomes challenging for them to hold those beliefs themselves. My approach consists largely in collaboration, where I see my role as one driven by compassionate curiosity to support you in better understanding yourself, thus increasing your ability to identify solutions that are most likely to work for you. I believe this approach fosters a sense of self-efficacy, autonomy, and resilience that will still be useful long after we have concluded working together.

My Values as a Therapist

I believe the foundation of effective therapy is built upon forming a strong therapeutic relationship, where there is mutual authenticity, sincerity, and showing up as best we can to work on the challenging things together. I value honesty, rapport building, and openness to expand one's window of tolerance at a pace that feels comfortable and well-supported. I also value transparency, and presenting the process of therapy in a way that feels approachable, clear, and direct. While I will always present as my authentic self, I intentionally hold space to meet the unique needs of those I support. I value that we all think, feel, and process differently; so, it's important to me to allow others to process and grow in a way that aligns with their authentic spirit. Lastly, I especially value positive challenge, which I define as intentionally choosing what we are willing to struggle for because it feels truly worthwhile and aligns with our deepest values and beliefs.