Rooted in curiosity and in compassion, I offer a client-centered creative approach to personal growth, mental health and wellness. I work with a variety of individuals - tall and small, neurotypical and uniquely-wired, with- and without-chronic conditions &/or diagnoses. I offer tele-mental-health to adolescents, caregivers, transitioning adults, and folks of all ages and abilities impacted by chronic illness or condition. I am an aspiring healing artist with licenses to counsel, coach, and educate across the state of Ohio and in Florida. For more on who I am, what sorts of experience I have to offer, and areas of specialty - visit my website (www.MindfulMilestones.org) or request a 15 minutes consult.

Hello! I work with athletes on life & sport.

When life becomes overwhelming or filled with uncertainty, we all deserve a space to talk with someone who will not judge or shame us but who will walk alongside us as we figure it out. I believe that healing happens in connection, and we aren’t designed to figure it all out alone.

I value creating a safe and non-judgemental environment so my clients so they feel safe and comfortable when sharing their stories. I work primarily with trauma-related concerns, anxiety/ panic disorders, and depression.

Reaching out for support is an act of courage, and I admire the bravery it takes to consider counseling. My hope for you is that through the therapeutic process, you can be equipped with the tools to engage in a life that feels not only manageable but also more meaningful and fulfilling.

“The most beautiful people are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” ― Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Welcome, I'm glad you're here, I'm Lauren Foss, MS, LMFT. If you're feeling lonely, misunderstood, overwhelmed, or hopeless, perhaps in search of hope or meaning, individual, couple, and/or family therapy is available to serve as a gentle, guiding light, to illuminate your path, and help you find your way through the dark.

I look forward to walking alongside you as you navigate life's obstacles, develop greater insight and awareness into yourself and your relationships, and obtain practical tools for managing difficulties. Please reach out for a free 15 minute consultation to determine if I'm the right therapist for you.

Melissa Murphy, LCSW-C, LICSW, LCSW, C-DBT, is a seasoned therapist and clinical director at Bethesda Therapy, licensed in Maryland, Washington D.C., and Virginia. Specializing in anxiety, depression, trauma, and OCD, she employs ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) and Inference-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT), recognized as leading treatments for OCD. Melissa's expertise extends to managing mood disorders, sexual dysfunction, and pelvic pain disorders. Her approach is collaborative and strengths-based, focusing on developing personalized strategies for each client.

As a Gottman-trained couples therapist, Melissa is adept at addressing the complexities of relationships affected by ADHD and OCD. She also treats Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs) and finds profound fulfillment in supporting therapists and those in helping professions. Her work is underpinned by advanced training in both Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

In my role as counselor I am honored to support individuals who are struggling with various aspects of life. Perhaps dealing with strong anxiety or depression, negative self talk, relationship issues, work or school pressures, unhealthy habits and poor self care. Does any of this sound like you? I will work with you to understand what is happening, design strategies to address your specific issues, and work step by step with you as we remove the barriers and build new and better ways of being you. Healthy, happy and connected to the world around you.
Encompassing compassion and practicality, I use cognitive behavioral, mindfulness, and short-term solution-focused therapies, often in my practice. I am EMDR trained, but prefer to use EFT (a cognitive somatic tapping technique), shown to help individuals integrate and heal from past traumatic events, life experience, difficult memories, present food cravings, stress, anxiety, and phobias. I also use cognitive behavioral therapy to help clients process certain issues and find solutions. My blending of cognitive and mind-body practice creates a unique healing experience for clients.
I am eager to help you thrive in all areas of your life, and will offer you the tools to make effective and lasting changes. I look forward to working with you towards the peace and health you desire. For clients who prefer speaking Spanish, I have a good command of the language. I am licensed in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Maryland and Vermont.

"When we deny our stories, they define us. When we own the story, we can write a brave new ending." -Brené Brown.

Believing these words, I create a safe, non-judgmental, compassionate space for adult individuals, couples and families to own and process their stories, while finding meaning, healing and growth. We are dynamic people, capable of change and restoration, and it is an honor to facilitate and walk with a person through this process. I have experience working with anxiety, depression, addiction, chronic illness, marital concerns, trauma, anger management, international adjustments and transitions, infertility and adoption.

In my therapeutic approach, emotional honesty is key in owning our stories and in being able to verbalize the impact of our family histories. Learning to accept how we feel helps us own our failures and mistakes. As your therapist, I will hold space, empowering you to make courageous decisions towards hope/healing/change.

I attended Taylor University in Indiana where I received my BA in Psychology and International Studies, after which I received my MA in Marriage and Family Therapy from Richmont Graduate University in Atlanta, GA. I grew up in North Africa and Western Europe in a multi-cultural family.

I speak kid + teen. I want my clients to go from a place of surviving to thriving. I’m here to help them uncover how to find joy and perseverance in life by connecting deeper with themselves and others through the use of therapeutic strategies and interventions that they can carry with them forever. I have my masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialty in children and adolescent development. I am trained in play therapy and utilize cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy) modalities to provide an individualized approach to therapy.
My promise is to allow clients and their families to feel valued and heard while motivating them to become the best versions of themselves! I am dedicated to celebrating clients' individuality and allowing clients the space to explore their story and in return gain confidence, awareness, and self-acceptance.
I would be honored to walk alongside your child and your family during this time. After all, we are each unique and worth celebrating! I am also a 200hr Registered Yoga Teacher and love to incorporate mind + body awareness in my sessions. I wasn’t kidding when I said "I speak kid and teen." *I do take college aged and adult clients based on referral.

The best place to change and grow is in relationships. I specialize in providing a safe, supportive and collaborative environment for each client who steps into my office. Whether it is through their anxiety, with their significant other or processing spiritual or relational trauma, my goal is connection. When that connection is fostered, I help clients unpack their feelings, process their irrational thoughts and get to the root of their struggles for true change to take place. It’s not about a quick fix but deep processing through a supportive, empathetic environment!