Stepping Beyond Insight and Into Alignment
ancient wisdom meets modern psychotherapy
You Might Be in the Right Place If:
You are the one everyone calls when things fall apart, and no one thinks to ask how you are doing.
You grew up faster than you should have, whether that was a parent's substance use, mental illness in the family, a high-conflict divorce, or responsibilities that were never yours to carry.
Your life looks successful from the outside and feels exhausting from the inside.
Rest feels like something you have to earn.
You are the "responsible one," the "mom/dad friend," the person everyone assumes has it handled.
Lauren Cruickshank, LMSW
Practicing under the clinical supervision of Louis Laves-Webb, LCSW-S
My Approach:
Life's disruptions can leave us feeling emotionally and physically stuck, pulling us out of alignment with who we truly are. When we're operating from a place of survival, it's difficult to experience the joy, connection, and sense of possibility that make life meaningful.
My therapeutic philosophy is simple: you were made to do more than simply survive—you were made to thrive. Healing isn't about becoming someone new; it's about reconnecting with the parts of yourself that have always been there beneath the weight of stress, trauma, and life's challenges.
My Training:
I earned my bachelor's degree in Psychology from Fordham University and my Master of Social Work from Columbia University. I hold a Level II certification in Usui Reiki and have trained in Somatic Experiencing (SE) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Before my graduate work I supported incarcerated youth at Echo Glen Children's Center, and during graduate school I worked with people facing opiate addiction at Bellevue Hospital. My work is integrative, grounded in the connection between mind, body, and spirit.
Outside the Therapy Room:
Outside of the therapy room, you'll usually find me spending time with my fiancé and our Bernese Mountain Dog, Topanga, practicing yoga, reading, or knitting.
Wherever you are in your journey, I'd be honored to walk alongside you as you reconnect with yourself and create a life that feels grounded, meaningful, and truly your own.
My Philosophy
True healing happens when the mind, body, and spirit are all tended to. I blend traditional therapy with somatic and energy-based practices, including Somatic Experiencing and Reiki, so that the work reaches further than talk alone can.
Services
Individuals
$140 per session - 50 minutes
Weekly or biweekly one-on-one therapy, in person or virtual.
Couples
$160 per session - 50 minutes
For partners working on communication, repair, or a season of transition.
Groups
$40 - $70 per session - 90 minutes
Small, facilitated groups. Offerings rotate, so join the newsletter to hear when the next one opens.
I am an out-of-network provider. I accept self-pay and HSA or FSA cards, and I can provide a monthly superbill you may submit to your insurance for possible reimbursement.
How to Get Started
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We talk, unhurried, about what brings you in and what you are hoping for. No commitment.
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If it feels like a fit, we schedule your first appointment. The first session or two is about your history and what is bringing you to therapy.
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Book a Consultation
15 minute complimentary call
Locations
Central Austin
601 West 18th St
Austin, TX 78701
street parking available to clients
North Austin
3818 Spicewood Springs Rd, Suite 300
Austin, TX 78759
complimentary parking in parking lot
Virtual
Available to anyone located anywhere in Texas, on a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
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I see clients in person at our Central Austin and North Austin offices, and virtually throughout the state of Texas. I am an associate therapist with Louis Laves-Webb, LCSW, LPC-S, and Associates.
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Somatic Experiencing is a body-based approach to working with stress and trauma. Rather than talking about a difficult experience alone, we pay attention to what happens in your body as we go, and work at a pace your nervous system can actually tolerate. It is gentle, gradual, and always led by you.
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Reiki is a Japanese practice developed in the early twentieth century. In the Reiki tradition, the practitioner supports the movement of energy, or ki, in the person receiving it. Clients most often describe the experience as deeply calming, and some find it helps them settle enough to approach harder emotional work.
Reiki is a complementary practice, not a clinical treatment, and it is not a substitute for therapy. It is entirely optional. If you're curious, we'll talk it through first and you decide if you would like it to be part of your treatment.
All Reiki is administered with no physical contact
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I ask that you cancel 24 hours before your scheduled session time otherwise you will be charged 100% of the session fee.
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