Lauren Ripley

Lauren Ripley greets people who are considering therapy with encouragement and a belief that choosing help is a meaningful step. She celebrates small accomplishments and values the decision to pursue personal growth, meeting each person where they are and hoping they find what brought them to therapy.

She earned a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2016 from Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas and later relocated to Missouri. She is licensed to practice as a professional counselor in Missouri (MO LPC 2017028216) and brings seven years of clinical experience to her work.

Lauren has practiced in college counseling centers, rehabilitation centers focused on drug and alcohol recovery, and in private practice. In those settings she has supported people coping with depression, suicidal thoughts and self-harm concerns, relationship challenges with themselves or others, anxiety, sexuality and LGBTQ-related issues, and addiction. She has also worked with individuals affected by trauma and family conflict.

Her therapeutic approach is flexible and multi-faceted, tending toward a relatable, personal, and straightforward style. Lauren values transparency in sessions and is willing to be direct while offering guidance, support, and validation. She understands therapy as a vulnerable process and sees her role as helping clients feel safe and empowered. Together they explore strengths and personal qualities to work toward the client’s goals, honoring the view that the client is the expert on their life. Lauren also incorporates positivity and humor to help make challenges feel more manageable.