Laurie Richardson , LMFT

Laurie Richardson returned to graduate school at the midpoint of her life to train as a therapist, bringing a wide array of life and professional experiences to her work. She has been a parent and spent years teaching at early childhood and middle school levels, including time as a preschool teacher and a 7th grade Waldorf teacher. Her creative career spans roles as an art instructor, graphic designer, copyrighter, and art consultant for more than 20 years. Her educational path included studies at UCLA, San Jose State, Sacramento State, a Waldorf training college, and the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco.

Laurie approaches therapy with humility and a strong commitment to listening. She designs treatment plans that are tailored to the individual in front of her, drawing on the principles of Client-Centered Therapy - the belief that people know themselves best and benefit from tools and perspectives that help them discover solutions within their own experience. She also integrates expressive arts into the healing process, using poetry, photography, visual art, movement, music, gardening, cooking, and other creative modalities as tools for exploration and growth.

Sessions with Laurie are often interactive and may include art activities, games, meditation, focused questions, and moments of deep feeling alongside laughter and insight. She aims to be present, supportive, and empowering as clients move into their next chapter. Laurie Richardson is an LMFT, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and she meets with people both in person and via telehealth.

Approaches and Online Support for Personal Growth

Laurie draws on Client-Centered Therapy to create a respectful, empathetic space where the client’s own insights guide change. This approach focuses on listening, validation, and helping people access their inner resources to address issues like relationships, self-esteem, and life transitions.

She also uses Mindfulness Therapy techniques to help people develop present-moment awareness and stress management skills. Mindfulness practices can support clients dealing with anxiety, sleep disturbances, depression, and the emotional aftermath of trauma by cultivating calm attention and clearer perspective.

Laurie may incorporate Solution-Focused elements when clients want practical, goal-oriented steps for immediate concerns. This approach highlights strengths, clarifies achievable goals, and builds on what is already working in a person’s life.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the process. Laurie collaborates with each client to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting the plan over time as progress and priorities evolve.

Online therapy with Laurie is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for busy schedules, mobility limitations, or clients in different locations. These options make ongoing care more accessible and allow continuity of support even when in-person visits are not possible.