Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Baker.
Hi Lauren, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I applied for my LLC for my own private therapy practice when I was 8 months pregnant with my first child. I had decided that I wanted the flexibility of being my own boss going into motherhood as well as challenging myself in my career to make a leap that I never thought I could make. Going to school for social work never trained me to have a business mindset, and I was very intimidated at the thought that I could accomplish this goal when I started back in mental health work after a few years in substance abuse as well as medical oncology social work. The goals of my practice were to provide trauma focused mental health care to my community as well as utilizing and providing resources, such as grants and copay assistance programs. I have never looked back once starting my own practice, even though getting off the ground running with clients again at 5 weeks postpartum was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done. I’m so grateful to have increased my knowledge base in not only the business world, but also through becoming certified in EMDR, getting into a difficult training (Internal Family Systems, Level 1) and completing it last spring, and completing my certification in perinatal mental health through Postpartum Support International. I feel that this has made me the most well rounded therapist I can be for my clients. I love being a part of the Lancaster therapist community and working with the men and women of the community has brought me so much joy and hope.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Learning how to have a business mindset when that was never taught to me in undergrad or grad school has been the most challenging thing for me to learn. Social work is so polar opposite from being a business or finance major. I was also very intimidated by the billing and insurance process when starting off on my own. Insurance companies and claims still remain a challenge!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Embrace Wellness Counseling LLC?
My practice is a trauma and systems-focused therapy approach to mental health concerns and overall well-being for our clients. I am personally certified in EMDR, a specific trauma focused modality to decrease symptoms of PTSD as well as being Internal Family System Level 1 Trained through the IFS Institute. IFS is another evidence based modality aimed at reprocessing past events as well as gaining a better understanding of one’s complex range of emotions and internal ‘parts’ of self. I am especially passionate about working with the perinatal mental health community and am also Perinatal Mental Health Certified through Postpartum Support International. I feel as though these specific trainings set me apart from other clinicians in my community. At Embrace Wellness Counseling, I also have 2 independent contractors – a Licensed Marriage and Family therapist, Megan Prevoznik, who works with individuals and couples from a trauma informed and systems perspective as well as Licensed Associate Professional Counselor, Jasmine Harlan, who works with women who identify in the neurodivergent and/or LGBTQA community. We all work with insurance companies, copay assistance programs, grants, and sliding scale to help make treatment as accessible as possible.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Learning that I don’t have to be a business expert to grow in the business world – I have learned that I can trust in myself and skills as a therapist and social worker.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.embracewellnesscounseling.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/embracewellness_counseling/
