Luminary Counseling

Hi, I'm Laura! I started my career in social work, and somewhere along the way, I realized that the part of the work I loved most was getting to sit with people, hear their stories, and help them make sense of what felt overwhelming, painful, or stuck. That eventually led me to earn my Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and build Luminary Counseling here in the great city of Fort Payne, Alabama. Luminary Counseling grew out of a desire to offer the kind of mental health care I believe people deserve. Care that is ethical, client-centered, thoughtful, and actually tailored to the person sitting in front of me. I don’t believe therapy should feel like someone is trying to fit your life into a diagnosis or force you through a one-size-fits-all treatment plan. I want the work we do together to make sense for you. Because of my background in social work, I naturally approach counseling from a strengths-based perspective. I tend to look at the whole picture, including the experiences, relationships, environments, and patterns that have shaped where someone is today, while also helping clients recognize the strengths they may have lost sight of along the way. My approach to therapy is integrative, and I pull from different evidence-informed methods depending on what each individual or couple needs. I most often incorporate cognitive behavioral therapy, somatic approaches, and parts work. I also have specialized training in couples counseling and have completed Levels 1 and 2 of Gottman Method Couples Therapy. I especially enjoy helping couples understand what is happening underneath the pain points, recognize the cycles they keep getting pulled into, and begin finding their way back to connection. More than anything, I want Luminary Counseling to be a place where people in Fort Payne and surrounding communities can receive quality mental health care and feel genuinely seen, respected, and supported in the process. I take the responsibility of being trusted with someone’s story seriously, and I feel incredibly grateful that this is the work I get to do.