Benjamin Lara, LCSW

Benjamin Lara is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Idaho with 11 years of experience. He works with adults facing stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma, grief, relationship and intimacy concerns, and related challenges such as sleep and eating issues. He also sees people dealing with caregiver strain, codependency, ADHD, and career or life-change stress.

Benjamin uses straightforward, person-centered counseling. Sessions focus on what the client wants to work on and on clear strategies to manage symptoms and patterns. He draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and make practical changes. He also integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and mindfulness-based skills when those fit a client's goals.

In sessions he listens without judgment and helps people set short-term goals. He often works on boundaries, communication, handling cravings or urges, and slowing down racing thoughts. For people who struggle with people-pleasing or living around another person’s moods, he helps identify patterns and develop small, doable steps toward change.

Benjamin has supported clients through addiction and recovery matters, trauma and loss, and chronic illness concerns. He also works with issues around kink and alternative sex cultures, blended family problems, and family-of-origin wounds. His approach combines practical tools with space to talk about painful experiences.

To begin, he asks people to identify what matters most to them and one small change they'd like to try. Sessions are structured around clear goals and regular check-ins on progress. People usually leave with specific skills to practice between visits.

How ACT, CBT and client-centered work online