Hello! I’m Lauren Hamrick. I am thrilled to be connected with Restoration Counseling of Atlanta!
What is your background and work experience?
I believe God beckoned me to the field of psychology from a young age. I’ve always been fascinated by the way people think, feel, and behave. It’s the “why” behind what we do that can be amazing to uncover. Then it’s the “so what do we do about it?” that brings it all together!
I come to RCA with a diverse set of experiences. Each of these situations has better prepared me as a therapist and a supervisor. I have worked with preschool children, school-aged, tweens, and teens, and I love working with parents and individual adult clients.
I’ve been in the mental health world for over twenty years! I have worked in child advocacy conducting forensic evaluations and therapy with those who’ve experienced child abuse. I have also been in private practice, a church, and have practiced in a school. More recently, I have worked as a coach and consulted in the business world, providing training on how to improve mental health while we work.
What is your approach to counseling & coaching?
I love the practice of counseling and coaching. God created us to need people! Research shows us time and again that connecting with others makes us healthier mentally and physically.
If I’m your therapist or if I’m your coach – I’m here 100% for YOU. This experience is different than the support you receive from a friend or family member. I want to hear your story and meet you where you are. This is a judgment-free zone. My approach to counseling is active, goal-oriented, and encouraging. My job is to join with you or your child, and together help you find solutions that can support and move you through your challenge.
What specific skills do you bring to RCA?
Stress and loss are a part of our human experience. I have considerable experience working with child and adult clients who have experienced anxiety, trauma, stress, and loss. These experiences created a desire to better understand how we as therapists, especially as Christian therapists, can build resilience and manage stress in our coaching and therapy clients.
I am currently working on completing a Ph.D. in social psychology, and my research has focused on understanding factors associated with positive coping and resilience. I love incorporating what I’m learning in my practice, and feel excited to share easy, doable strategies that help with growth.
Although I enjoy working with different age-ranged clients, one population I really connect with is children. Working with children, parents, and families is so rewarding! Helping a family when the child is young can make a lifetime of difference in a family. I am a registered play therapist, which means I have been trained in using playful, creative methods in therapy with all clients. I believe training in play therapy is a necessary tool when working with elementary school-aged clients.
How do you use play in therapy?
We don’t need to teach children how to play, it is the natural way they communicate, learn, and understand the world. The way I use play in therapy is directive. This means I use techniques and theories that are research-based such as cognitive behavioral therapy, and I merge them with creative expression. In play therapy, I may use books, toys, art, writing exercises, and other methods to engage the people I serve. The process of “doing” and “creating” while attending a group, listening to a training, or working on an issue helps to access different parts of the brain which can elevate learning. Play therapy has numerous benefits, which I can’t wait to share with RCA community! Stay tuned for more articles on play!
How to contact Lauren
If you are just curious or ready to find support, I’d love to talk to you! You may reach me at lauren@restorationcounselingatl.com or call 678-534-3824 x 127 to leave a message on my confidential voicemail.