Our Team
Lauren Freier, MA, LCPC
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Specialities: Dating & Relationship Challenges, Sexual Assault Recovery, Complex Trauma, and Anxiety & High Achiever Burnout
Lauren is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) who practices collaborative treatment with adults. In her style of genuine and empathic connection, Lauren actively engages clients in an insight-oriented, relationally-driven therapeutic process. She helps clients attune to their somatic and emotional experiences, access and trust their internal compass, build meaningful lives, and foster fulfilling relationships.
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Lauren graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California with a bachelor's degree in Psychology and earned a master's degree from Pepperdine University, with honors, in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. In addition to her work in private practice settings, Lauren also has experience working in community-based mental health and non-profit settings, where she has facilitated school-based counseling groups and led various workshop topics. Lauren also provides clinical supervision for post-graduate clinicians.
Lauren specializes in working with complex trauma, anxiety, dating struggles, relationship distress, family issues, and difficult life transitions, and does so through a trauma-informed, culturally-sensitive, inclusive lens. She offers compassionate feedback, fosters depth-focused exploration, helps with becoming “unstuck”, and empowers clients in their journey toward healing, self-acceptance, and skill-development. Lauren knows that an authentic and safe connection is a crucial foundation to therapeutic work, and shows up for her clients with humility, humanity, and warmth.
Michelle Thornton, MA, LPC, CYT
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Specialities: Narcissistic Abuse & Divorce Recovery, Complex Trauma, Anxiety, and Yoga for Mental Health
Michelle is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and certified yoga teacher who believes that by working with the mind and the body, deep healing can occur. She works with adults through a multicultural framework and approaches therapy from a place of warmth and acceptance. Viewing healing as a continuum and not a destination, Michelle creates space to embark on this journey safely and with compassionate curiosity.
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Michelle earned her master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Roosevelt University. She is also certified as a psychologically sensitive yoga teacher. In both her therapy and yoga practices, Michelle works from a trauma-informed lens, prioritizing the unique circumstances and identities of each client. Furthermore, Michelle understands that the body carries an innate intelligence and contributes to psychological wellness. She has supported clients clinically in university and private practice settings, where she provided individual therapy as well as developed and led workshops on a variety of mental health topics.
Michelle specializes in the treatment of anxiety, trauma, narcissistic abuse recovery, and relationship discord. She works from a psychodynamic and attachment perspective and understands that by exploring the roots of psychological suffering, individuals can improve current life circumstances and cultivate deeper fulfillment. She holds the foundational belief that there is transformative power in the therapeutic relationship and that it can provide a safe space to heal and navigate life in an authentic way. As a part of her evidence-based therapeutic style, Michelle integrates mindfulness, meditation, and somatic practices, such as yoga and breathwork. Additionally, Michelle can conduct therapy sessions in English and French.
Hope Chrzan, MA, LPC
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Specialities: Complex Anxiety & OCD, Body Image & Eating Disorder Recovery, Relationship Issues, and Complex Trauma
Hope is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who supports adults through a multicultural and trauma-informed lens. She carefully engages with everyone’s unique story, acknowledging the impact that social, systemic, and cultural factors have on an individual’s understanding of their identity and their mental health. Hope recognizes the crucial power of relationship-building, and emphasizes transparency, authenticity, thoughtfulness, and humor throughout the therapeutic process.
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Hope attended Roosevelt University and earned her master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. She brings experience from the community mental health sector, where she engaged in therapy and crisis intervention services to adults, youth, and families. Additionally, Hope has a background in working with individuals with developmental disabilities and has provided in-home behavioral interventions to children with Autism and related diagnoses. Hope has also provided coaching and parent training support for individuals diagnosed with ADHD.
Hope utilizes a client-centered approach and incorporates various evidence-based modalities including acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), exposure and response prevention (ERP), and mindfulness-based and cognitive behavioral strategies. She specializes in anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, body image and eating disorder recovery, complex trauma, LGBTQIA+ identity and gender exploration, and relationship and transitional stressors. She strives to create a space where clients feel validated and empowered, and where they can build a better understanding of themselves, their strengths, and the tools they need to enhance their mental wellness.
Haley Rawles, MA, LPC
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Specialities: Life Transitions, Relationship Issues, Identity & Sexuality, and Complex Trauma
Haley is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who supports adults through a humanistic, psychodynamic, and multicultural lens. As a clinician with multiple identities, she recognizes the impact intersectionality can have, thus helping individuals within the therapeutic space to heal from systemic and historic disempowerment. Haley also helps create a collaborative, nonjudgmental space for clients to confidently address their needs while utilizing a genuine, empathic presence in the therapeutic process.
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Haley graduated from St. Ambrose University with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and Psychology and earned a master’s degree from Roosevelt University in Clinical Psychology. She has experience working in community-based mental health and non-profit settings, where she engaged in individual and group therapy services as well as crisis intervention for adults. She also has extensive knowledge about the human body, utilizing this information to create a more holistic therapeutic experience for clients.
Haley specializes in working with anxiety, difficult life transitions, LGBTQIA+ identity and gender exploration, relationship challenges, and trauma, utilizing evidence-based modalities including DBT and mindfulness-based approaches. She believes in the importance of providing a compassionate and inclusive environment, which helps foster a safe client-therapist relationship, and in turn helps clients build more meaningful relationships with themselves and others.
Desireé York, MS, LPC, NCC
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Specialities: Family & Relationship Issues, Life Transitions, Complex Trauma, and Anxiety
Desireé is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who works with adults in forming culturally-sensitive collaborations, facilitating holistic healing where clients are no longer alone on the journey of moving toward their life goals. She creates a safe, supportive space where clients can feel heard and accepted. Her style of empathy and encouragement emphasizes strengths, nurtures self-acceptance, and builds confidence.
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Desireé graduated summa cum laude from California State University Fullerton with a bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts and a minor in Women’s Studies, and earned her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from National Louis University. She is also a published writer and produced playwright, using art for social justice. With over 25 years of experience in non-profit social services, educational, and community roles across the country, Desireé brings a deep understanding of diverse life experiences and challenges into her role as a therapist.
Desireé works from a foundation of client-centered and relationally-driven approaches while incorporating evidence-based practices including mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and motivational interviewing. She specializes in trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, substance use concerns, relationship/family issues, and life transitions. Desireé recognizes the privilege of trust in a relationship and meets clients with authenticity, intentionality, and hope.