Lauren Harper, LMSW
Trauma Therapist
The world can be a lot, but there’s a place for you in it. Let’s figure out where that place is, together.
If you’d rather start your journey with someone over the phone, call us at 313-288-2689.
Who I work with
You notice the shift in someone's energy before they've said a word, you experience emotions so deeply they exhaust you, and you spend a lot of time wishing you could just turn it down a little. You've probably spent a lot of your life wondering how to fit into a world that doesn't always seem designed for the heightened way you experience it.
The same qualities that make you perceptive and empathetic can cause ordinary life to feel overwhelming. You might have been considered gifted once and still found yourself struggling to keep up—because the world doesn't always accommodate the kind of depth you bring to it.
I work with adults who are asking the big questions about existence, society, and their purpose to help them figure out how to honor who they are while functioning in daily life. Here, you’ll be seen as a whole person with very valid emotions and concerns—not reduced to a list of symptoms.
My areas of specialty
I specialize in trauma, relationships, existential concerns, and challenges experienced by highly sensitive people (HSP). Many of my clients are navigating the effects of difficult memories or experiences, or getting through challenging seasons of life by coping in ways that are no longer serving them.
Helping people connect with their sense of purpose is central to my work. I believe we never really “arrive” in life, and therefore am always seeking ways to improve, learn, and grow as a person. What that means for our work together is that I bring not only my decades of experience, but also the latest science-backed approaches as well as the unwavering belief that you’re capable of embracing your strengths and growing, too.
My background & training
I am a Licensed Master Social Worker with 20+ years of experience. I hold a Master’s of Social Work from West Virginia University. My path has included working with AmeriCorps and spending more than a decade alongside people experiencing homelessness. I’ve also provided therapy at a military base, a men’s shelter, and in a health center working with LGBTQIA+ clients—so no need to soften the edges of what you’re going through, I can handle it.
My approach draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), breathwork, mindfulness tools, and psychodynamic approaches. By the Fall of 2026, I will also be able to provide Brainspotting and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) sessions with an expressive arts focus. I’ll tailor my approach to ensure you walk away from our sessions feeling like you got what you needed—and if you’re not sure what you need, we can figure that out together.
Insurance companies I work with
BCBS/BCN
Aetna
Priority Health
United Healthcare
Cigna
Medicaid