- CBT techniques
- DBT skills
- Mindfulness practice
About Laura
Laura Phen is an LPC - Licensed Professional Counselor with 25 years of clinical experience based in South Dakota. She helps people who are dealing with anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy concerns, trauma and abuse, and related struggles such as trouble sleeping and low self-esteem. Her work also covers career concerns, burnout and compassion fatigue, ADHD, and mood conditions like bipolar disorder.
She focuses on conversations that are direct and practical. Sessions commonly include talking through current problems, identifying patterns that cause distress, and trying small behavior changes to test what helps. She uses a mix of client-centered listening, cognitive behavioral tools, skills from dialectical behavior approaches, and mindfulness practices so the work is concrete and skills-based.
Laura has long experience supporting people facing complicated grief, parenting stress, chronic illness, and life changes such as career shifts or isolation. She also addresses relationship topics including communication problems, codependency, and non-monogamy concerns. First responder and veteran issues are within her range of work as well.
In sessions she typically helps people make manageable plans for sleep, mood, and stress, and practices techniques to reduce panic and anxiety. She talks through anger, guilt, and feelings of emptiness while helping clients set short-term goals they can try between visits. Her approach mixes listening with practical tools people can use right away.
To begin, readers should follow the site's sign-up flow and complete the matching questionnaire to schedule a first session. She offers services in English and does not take international clients.
How her approaches translate to online sessions
Client-centered work emphasizes listening and building trust, so online sessions focus on clear, patient conversation and checking in about what feels most useful. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and uses short exercises to test new ways of acting; this maps easily to online sessions through worksheets, homework, and brief experiments between meetings. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers concrete skills for distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness that can be taught, practiced, and reviewed in remote sessions.Finding the right approach is collaborative. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, preferences, and how they respond to different techniques, then try approaches that fit. She will adjust tools and pacing based on feedback so the work stays practical and goal-focused.
The practical benefits of remote sessions include fitting appointments into a busy schedule and reducing travel time. Confirm the exact session formats before booking since the profile does not list them; ask whether sessions are video, phone, or another supported option. Online work can make it easier to follow up with brief check-ins, use digital worksheets, and practice skills in the context of everyday life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
25+ years
Listed in
Washington, Oregon, Illinois, Utah, South Dakota, Arizona
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address?
She works with anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy issues, trauma and abuse, sleep problems, self-esteem, ADHD, bipolar mood concerns, and related areas listed in her profile.
What is her therapeutic style?
She combines client-centered listening with cognitive behavioral tools, DBT skills, and mindfulness practices to offer practical strategies and skills people can try between sessions.
How much experience does she have?
She has 25 years of professional experience working with a wide range of concerns including grief, chronic illness, and relationship challenges.
What are her credentials and location?
She is an LPC - Licensed Professional Counselor and lists South Dakota as her location while holding licensure in AZ and OR per her credential details.
Which languages and countries are supported?
Sessions are offered in English and she does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
Confirm current session options before booking because the original profile does not specify which formats are offered.
How does pricing work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I start a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session through the platform.
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.