- CBT techniques
- Narrative therapy
- Solution-focused work
About Laura
Laura Pengelly is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in Pennsylvania with 22 years of clinical experience. She works with people facing relationship and family problems, trauma and abuse, mood disorders, anxiety, and issues common in early adulthood such as career stress and identity concerns.
She uses practical, goal-focused methods to help people untangle current problems. Sessions focus on how someone is looking at a situation and on steps they can try next. Laura draws on several approaches including cognitive behavioral ideas, narrative techniques, and solution-focused methods to support progress.
Many people come to her for help with grief, anger, intimacy-related worries, and parenting or fatherhood questions. She also has experience with attachment issues, autism and Asperger syndrome, blended family dynamics, and family of origin concerns. Mood disorders listed include bipolar disorder and depression.
In sessions she talks through patterns, tests small changes, and tracks what helps. For trauma-related work she uses focused methods designed for processing traumatic experiences and reducing their ongoing effects. Her style is interactive and practical, aimed at moving forward rather than only talking about the past.
People looking for therapy in Pennsylvania can expect straightforward conversations about problems and clear suggestions to try between sessions. Laura offers work in English and does not accept international clients. To begin, she asks new clients to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session through the online booking flow.
Therapeutic approaches and how online work can fit
Laura often uses cognitive behavioral therapy and narrative therapy as part of her work. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors to reduce anxiety, depression, or mood swings. Narrative therapy helps people separate themselves from problems by looking at stories they tell about their life and considering alternative, more helpful narratives.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss your goals and preferences, try methods that fit your needs, and adjust the work based on what helps. Clients are involved in deciding which techniques to use and what progress should look like.
Confirm specific session formats before booking because the profile does not list them. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, allow for shorter check-ins when time is limited, and remove travel time that would otherwise interrupt study or work. If you prefer not to be on camera some formats use only audio or text, while other formats allow face-to-face interaction. Ask about the options available and which approach might suit your situation best.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
22+ years
Listed in
Pennsylvania
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she work with?
She works with relationship and family problems, trauma and abuse, mood disorders, anxiety, parenting and young adult issues among others.
What is her general approach in sessions?
She uses practical, interactive methods that look at how a person views a problem and what to try next, drawing on CBT, narrative, and solution-focused ideas.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 22 years of experience working with individuals and families on a wide range of concerns.
What are her credentials and where does she practice?
She holds the LMFT credential and practices in Pennsylvania as a PA LMFT.
Can she work with people who live outside the United States?
Sessions are offered in English and she does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
Please confirm current session options before booking since specific formats are not listed in the profile.
How are sessions paid for and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session through the booking flow.
Online talk therapy through BetterHelp is for adults aged 18 and over and is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.