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510-594-4300
3300 Powell Street, Emeryville, CA 94608 | 2023 N Street #100, Sacramento, CA 95811 | All Counties, Oregon
This is me
and I'm here to help...
Laura Gardner, MFT
"Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." -Maya Angelou
With nearly 20 years of experience as a holistic psychotherapist, I specialize in helping clients overcome perfectionism, anxiety, and complex trauma. My goal is to support you in healing past wounds, managing stress effectively, building confidence and self-awareness so you can feel whole, empowered, and capable of creating a fulfilling life.
I also work with couples, especially interracial and interfaith couples to navigate challenges related to cultural differences, communication, and values. My approach is holistic, compassionate and collaborative, tailored to your individual needs.
Why We're Great >
It's possible to:
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Stop people-pleasing.
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Figure out who YOU are and what YOU want to do.
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SLOW DOWN.
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Know and speak your truth.
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Move past the trauma of the past.
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Connect more easily with partners and friends.
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Overcome unhealthy coping habits.
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Feel calmer despite the unfinished "to-do" lists.
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Figure out if you're in the right relationships.
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Let others shoulder the burden for once.
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Let go of some of the perfectionism.
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Make time for things that interest you.
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Feel comfortable in your own skin.
Whether as an individual or as a couple, you will come away from our work with more choice and freedom in your life.
There are so many ways of getting information about ourselves - through our thoughts and intellect, through our body sensations and symptoms, through our emotions, our intuition, our spiritual experiences, and interpersonally through our connections with others. By listening in and homing in on all of these ways, healing becomes more than just an idea but a reality.
"What will therapy be like with you?"
Psychological pain is often created in relationship, so healing must occur within a safe, trusting relationship. In our work together, no topic is off-limits. I provide the acceptance and support that may have been lacking during your upbringing. My approach is eclectic, incorporating humor (when appropriate) to foster connection and ease. Our sessions may include mindfulness, body awareness, breathing techniques, art (such as drawing), EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), and exploration of your personal and intergenerational history.
We’ll also focus on our interpersonal dynamics, challenge negative beliefs, and observe the present moment. My goal is to guide you to a deeper understanding of yourself, break free from old patterns, and empower you to build the fulfilling life you deserve. Each session is tailored to your unique needs, creating a supportive, collaborative environment.
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"What are you like?"
I happen to know a little bit about a lot of things. I’ve also been described as warm, friendly, direct, intense, calm, caring, smart, curious, open-minded, non-judgmental, and easy to talk to. Do with that what you will!
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I came to psychology through my Ashtanga and Anusara yoga practices at the time. I absolutely knew that practicing yoga was improving my confidence, my agency in the world, and increasing my self-awareness. But I wanted to understand more. The somatic psychotherapy field piqued my interest - it's the union between mental health and the physical body.
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Anything else I should know about you?
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I have a strong conviction to create a more equal, just, inclusive, and diverse world. It’s essential to me that we continuously work to dismantle racism, sexism, and all forms of discrimination. I’ve led diversity and inclusion trainings with U.C. Berkeley staff on topics such as privilege, mental illness, and unconscious bias.
My passion for inclusion comes from my experiences growing up in the Bay Area, receiving a bilingual education, working with ESL students, professors, and Chinese executives, spending time abroad, and having both queer and straight friends and clients. As a great-grandchild of immigrants, I’m deeply connected to the importance of inclusivity.
Having a diverse practice is intentional for me, and I welcome people from all backgrounds. However, I believe it is crucial that, in our quest for equality, we ensure we are not causing further harm.
Experience That Informs My Work
Since we'll be on this journey together, you may wonder what makes me qualified to help you.
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While my life and work experiences are varied and diverse, these are just some of the concrete pieces that qualify me to help you.
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I am a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in the States of California (LMFT53622) and Oregon (T1862)
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I got my Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology with a Somatic focus from John F. Kennedy University.
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I was a Board Member at Grateful Heart Holistic Therapy Center for four years.
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I am EMDRIA-certified and completed my AF-EMDR (Attachment-Focused EMDR) training with Dr. Laurel Parnell and Connie Kaplan, MFT at the Parnell Institute.
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I studied under therapist Marsha Hiller, LMFT in Berkeley for over 12 years.
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I interned at Rape Trauma Services in Burlingame, counseling women who survived childhood and/or adult sexual assault and rape.
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I interned at Parkmead Elementary School in Walnut Creek counseling kids ages 5 to 10.
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I have massage and anatomy training from the McKinnon Body Therapy Center in Oakland.
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I am a current member of EMDRIA, CAMFT, the East Bay Chapter of CAMFT, The Jewish Therapist Collective, and The Parnell Institute.
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I practiced Ashtanga and Anusara yoga regularly in the East Bay for nearly 13 years.
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I studied the major religions of the world both on my own and in school settings.
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I work with both Eastern and Western models of health (and try to take the best parts of each one!).
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Influences (just to name a few) - Carl Rogers, Carl Jung, Virginia Satir, Irvin Yalom, Maya Angelou, Martin Seligman (Positive Psychology), Arnold Mindell (Process work), Geneen Roth, Eckhart Tolle, Don Miguel Ruiz, Louise Hay, Brené Brown, Kristin Neff (Self-Compassion), Gabor Maté, Cheri Huber, and many more.
Personal growth and healing has been a lifelong endeavor and I continue to be curious about my own thoughts, feelings, sensations, relationships, and behaviors.
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My clients come from all different industries, including healthcare, technology, bio-tech, social work & counseling, education, business management, the sciences, public safety/first responders, the skilled trades, and the arts.