About Laurie
Laurie Ann Pena, LPC, helps people facing stress, anxiety, addictions, and depression find clearer footing. She works with individuals who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure about next steps. Her tone is warm and direct, aimed at people who need practical ways to cope and move forward.
She earned a Master of Science in Counseling with a specialization in Addictions from Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi in 2015. Laurie has five years as a Licensed Professional Counselor and more than a decade working in behavioral health settings.
Background and approach
That background informs how she shapes sessions and supports gradual change. In sessions she focuses on building self-love and stronger self-esteem. She helps people unpack guilt and shame and develop tools to manage mood and anxiety.
Conversations also cover communication problems and ways to lessen isolation and loneliness. Laurie helps clients work through life changes and questions about purpose. She offers straightforward techniques and practical coping skills that can be applied between meetings.
The work is collaborative, with steps chosen to match each person’s goals and pace. Clients can expect a nonjudgmental space to name struggles and try new ways of responding. Laurie aims to empower people to challenge limiting beliefs, reduce unhealthy habits, and create routines that support lasting change.
How therapeutic approaches translate to online care
Evidence-based therapeutic techniques here focus on practical change. One common approach helps people learn specific coping skills for anxiety and mood issues, such as breathing methods, activity planning, and step-by-step behavior changes that reduce overwhelm. These techniques are useful when stress or anxiety make daily tasks harder.Another focus is building self-esteem and working through shame. That work uses guided conversations and exercises to challenge harsh self-judgments and to practice kinder self-talk and small tasks that reinforce a sense of competence. It can help people stuck in negative cycles or struggling with addiction-related shame.
Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will collaborate with each person to identify which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, and will adjust over time as progress is made.
Online therapy offers flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. Video calls let people use visual cues for deeper conversations. Phone sessions work when bandwidth is limited or when being on camera feels difficult. Live chat and text-based messaging provide brief check-ins or ongoing written support between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives and keep momentum between meetings.
Questions people ask
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What this therapist works with
Most often
Also listed
- Experience
- 5 years
- Licensed
- Texas
- Languages
- English
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