Lauren Albrecht, M.A., MSG, Associate Marriage and Family Therapist AMFT 135201 – Supervised by Monica Valdivia Aguilar Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT 41352)
Pronouns: She / Her / Hers
Welcome! I’m passionate about supporting parents, teens, gender-expansive youth, and young adults as they navigate life’s challenges and discover their inner strengths.
As both a mother and clinician, I understand how disorienting and difficult the past few years have been. The pandemic has taken an immense toll on individuals and families, and my goal is to help clients heal from this collective trauma in a warm, safe, and judgment-free space.
For Parents
I help parents develop strategies and skills to communicate more effectively and how to set boundaries that work with their kids, teens and young adults. Many parents feel uncertain about how to best support their children, especially in today’s high-pressured, goal-driven world. Sometimes parents just need support to help their kids build skills to cope with anxiety and stress. I will work with you to strengthen family connections, improve communication, and have fewer conflicts at home.
For Teens & Young Adults
I support teens in navigating difficult peer relationships, improving communication with their parents, and building confidence and resilience. My approach helps young people develop the skills they need to care for themselves and move through life’s ups and downs with greater self-awareness and strength.
My Approach
With clinical training and personal experience, I bring a deep understanding of the challenges families face today. I am committed to creating a therapeutic relationship that is sensitive to the multicultural dimensions of each individual’s experience, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, and age. My graduate studies provided me with the tools to integrate these factors into my work in a meaningful and supportive way.
I entered the mental health field to better understand the rise in teen and young adult mental health struggles. Once my children became more independent, I pursued my lifelong passion for this work, earning a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology. I draw from my life experiences, education, and clinical work as I walk alongside my clients in pursuit of their goals.
Specialties:
I provide support for growth in the following areas:
- Parenting challenges
- Depression
- Anxiety
- High School / College / Life Transitions
- LGBTQ+-related Issues / Identity Development
- Caregiving and burnout
- Mindfulness / Mind-Body Awareness / Guided meditation
- Life skills and independence
- Gifted and neurodivergent children
Additional Information about my Specialties:
Drawing from a variety of therapeutic approaches that are client-centered and humanistic, I use research-based, cognitive-behavioral techniques to help clients challenge unproductive and unhealthy thinking. I create the space for clients to explore their feelings of helplessness and overwhelm. By getting in touch with our inner worlds, we can explore faulty ways of thinking and potentially unhealthy belief systems. And through this process, we can deepen our relationships with family members, friends, and most importantly – ourselves.
In therapy, I lean on the growing body of knowledge around neuroscience to help clients understand the importance of the brain-body connection. It can be productive to discuss the complexity of the brain and how it impacts behaviors, emotions, and our responses to the world in which we live.
I am also available to support clients who are faced with caring for their aging parents. I have experience working with adults who are juggling two roles – taking care of their own children and supporting the needs of their aging parents. Known as the “Sandwich Generation,” this group of adults faces high levels of burnout, mental illness, and sleep disorders. With an educational background in gerontology and health administration, I am committed to supporting clients as they find ways to successfully care for both generations.
Advanced Trainings:
- SPACE Treatment (Supporting Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions)
Other Current Professional Activities:
- San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association, member
- California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, member
- American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, member
- Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology, member
Prior Experience:
- San Gabriel Mission High School, Clinical Practicum
- Macaroni Kid Pasadena, founding publisher and editor
- Cate School, Board of Trustees, current trustee, and former president of the Alumni Leadership Council
- Chandler School, Alumni Council, current member, and former president
Education:
- Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology, Pepperdine University
- Master of Health Administration, University of Southern California
- Master of Science in Gerontology, University of Southern California
- Bachelor of Arts, Skidmore College
Mission: My mission in working with parents, caregivers, teens, gender expansive youth, and young adults is to work together to increase self-awareness, develop coping strategies to manage life’s ups and downs, and a find a sense of joy and peace in their lives.
Email: LAlbrecht@InstituteforGirlsDevelopment.com
Phone: 626-585-8075 ext. 129