Where Laura stands
- Credentials
- LPC
- License
- LMHC, Washington / LH 61165154; LPC, Oregon / C6507; LCPC, Illinois / 180013797; LCMHC, Utah / 12258327-6004; LPC, South Dakota / LPC-MH2170; LPC, Arizona / LPC-22832
- NPI
- 1184786675
- Experience
- 25 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- South Dakota
About
- relationship issues
- trauma and abuse
- mindfulness and skills
About Laura
Laura Phen is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with 25 years of clinical experience. She works with adults on relationship concerns, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, depression, anxiety, stress, grief, and patterns like people-pleasing or codependency.
She draws on straightforward, person-focused methods in session. Conversations look at what keeps old patterns alive and what small changes could feel more manageable. Sessions include practical skills for managing intense emotions, tools to notice negative thinking, and simple mindfulness practices to steady the mind.
Clients often bring worries about setting limits, feeling drained by others, trouble sleeping, or repeated relationship patterns. Laura helps people name those patterns and try out different ways of responding. She pays attention to how the past affects current relationships and to the everyday habits that keep people stuck.
Her work makes room for concrete goals like better sleep, clearer boundaries, or calmer reactions to stress. She mixes listening with structured techniques from cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavior approaches. Mindfulness exercises are used to build awareness in moments of overwhelm.
People who come for help can expect clear, practical steps and a focus on skills that can be practiced between sessions. Laura also supports those managing career strain, parenting stress, chronic illness, or first responder and veteran-related concerns. She offers services in English and sees clients in South Dakota.
How sessions work
Therapeutic approaches and online sessions
Laura integrates Client-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in practical ways. Client-Centered work focuses on listening and reflecting so clients can explore what matters to them. CBT looks at unhelpful thought patterns and teaches skills to shift those thoughts and behaviors, which can help with anxiety, depression, and relationship patterns.She also uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills for managing strong emotions and improving distress tolerance. DBT offers concrete tools for grounding during overwhelm and for practicing steady emotional responses in relationships. Choosing which approaches to use is collaborative; the therapist and client decide together based on needs, goals, and what feels most helpful.
If you plan to use online sessions, confirm the exact session formats before booking since the biography did not list them. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, allow for shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Many people find it simpler to use virtual appointments for regular skill practice and follow-up between in-person visits with other providers.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
25+ years
Listed in
Washington, Oregon, Illinois, Utah, South Dakota, Arizona
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address?
She works with relationship problems, trauma and abuse, intimacy struggles, depression, anxiety, codependency, and related issues such as grief and sleep problems.
How would you describe her therapy style?
She uses a person-focused approach combined with practical techniques from CBT and DBT and mindfulness for emotion regulation and thinking patterns.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 25 years of professional experience working with adults on a wide range of concerns including relationships and trauma.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is an LPC and provides services in South Dakota. Her license is listed as LPC.
Does she offer sessions in other languages or countries?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not accepted.
Which session formats are available?
The original biography did not specify session formats; please confirm the current options before booking.
How is cost handled?
Cost varies with location, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What should I do to begin?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe at home, use the crisis and helpline numbers.