Lauren Christina

Hey, I’m Lauren. Therapist. Trauma-Nerd. Fierce Believer in Your Capacity to Heal. Real as Hell. I’ve spent the last 14 years working in community mental health—walking alongside people who’ve carried heavy stories, survived deep hurt, and kept going when the world didn’t make it easy. Folks who’ve survived trauma, systems that failed them, deep loneliness, and years of having to shrink themselves just to get by. I specialize in complex trauma—the kind that doesn’t come from one event, but from years of not being safe, not being seen, or having to constantly shift how you show up in the world to fit in, keep the peace, or avoid harm—whether that meant people-pleasing, staying small, or never letting your real self be fully known. This kind of trauma might show up as: Anxiety that won’t quit Numbness and disconnection Explosive anger you don’t know what to do with Shame that lives in your bones Never feeling like “enough” A deep sense of not knowing who you are You’re exhausted from trying to keep it all together. You’re wondering why the same patterns keep pulling you back in. If that sounds familiar, let me say this: You are not broken. You adapted. And that adaptation kept you alive. But now, it might be time to learn a new way—one where you get to feel safe, whole, and more like yourself. And healing from complex trauma? It’s not easy. But it is possible for you. Our work will get you there. How I Work I show up to this work with honesty, compassion, and deep respect for your autonomy. I won’t ask you to retell your trauma unless you want to. I won’t rush your process—but I won’t sugarcoat things either. I believe that healing doesn’t mean changing who you are—it means coming home to yourself: To your strength. Your boundaries. Your voice. And the parts of you that were buried along the way. This is a space where you don’t have to hide, shrink, or translate yourself. I practice from an LGBTQ+ affirming and anti-oppressive lens, which means I’m always working to make this a space where all of you are welcome—including your identities, your history, your culture, and the ways you’ve had to navigate a world that doesn’t always make room for you. If you’ve ever been told you’re “too much,” “too sensitive,” or “not enough,” this space was made for you. You’ve done what you needed to do to survive. Now it’s time to stop surviving quietly—and start living boldly. What I Bring to the Work ✔ 14 years in community mental health ✔ Independently licensed to practice in Indiana and Illinois ✔ EMDR certified + trained in trauma-sensitive yoga ✔ Deep experience with complex trauma, dissociation, and identity work ✔ Queer affirming, anti-racist, body-trusting, and unapologetically person-first ✔ Fluent in dark humor, messy healing, and awkward moments I don’t believe in “fixing” people. I believe in walking with you as you unlearn survival patterns and reclaim what’s yours—your power, your story, your right to take up space. This work is sacred to me. Not because it’s clean or polished—but because it’s real. Raw. Honest. Transformative. Just like you. Outside the Therapy Room When I’m not holding space for healing, I’m probably walking my dog, blasting music that doesn’t match the mood, learning how to use astrology to optimize my life from coaching with my favorite astrologer, or reading nerdy books about trauma and the nervous system for fun (yes, really). Let’s Get Started You don’t have to hold it all together or do the work of healing alone. If you’re ready to begin your healing journey—or even just thinking about it—I’ll be here.