Hi, my name is Lauren Bark. I am a therapist who values creating a space that feels supportive, collaborative, and authentic—somewhere you can come as you are. I tailor our work to reflect your unique worldview, personality, and needs. I’m here to offer thoughtful, compassionate support and to walk alongside you with curiosity and humanity. 

My therapeutic approach is rooted in Internal Family Systems (IFS), Somatic Mindfulness, Emotion-Focused Therapies, and Art Therapies. I integrate these approaches to help you connect more deeply with yourself and all parts of you—your emotions, thoughts, nervous system, and the life experiences that molded your internal landscape. I work gently and relationally, always honoring your pace and emphasizing the importance of self-compassion and self-energy as the foundation for healing and growth. Some of the areas I enjoy working with include self-esteem, shame, trauma, anxiety, family dynamics, relational struggles, identity exploration, stress management, substance abuse, and life transitions.

IFS Therapy

I view each person as inherently whole, with inner wisdom and undiscovered capacities. The parts of us that are on guard, carry our pain, and feel stuck in harmful patterns are not “Bad,” but rather misunderstood and maladapted from undergoing painful experiences and taking on extreme roles. I work to reconnect you with these parts through guided IFS exercises and concepts that facilitate curiosity, self-compassion, internal awareness, and deeper understanding of why you may think, feel, or behave in a certain way. This allows you to find ways to renegotiate new “jobs” for your parts that are less harmful, more emotionally regulated, and more in line with who you are at your core. Ultimately, this method reduces feelings of shame, anxiety, and depression and heals the traumatic emotional burdens you may have tucked away inside of your being.  

Working with Children

For children, I offer developmentally attuned support through Non-Directive Child-Centered Play Therapy, Art Therapy, and Social-Emotional Learning (such as mindfulness, emotions, and coping skills). I work to create a playful and emotionally safe environment for self-expression. I model healthy boundaries, emotional intelligence, and respectful communication while supporting each child’s autonomy—something often limited in their daily lives. By offering choices, honoring their voice, and creating space for self-direction, I help children build confidence and strengthen their sense of self.

Working with Couples

With couples, I create a space where we can slow down, and begin to understand each other beneath the surface of conflict. Sometimes it is not about solving the immediate issue, but rather uncovering the deeper unmet needs and potential fears underneath. I draw from Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Emotion Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) to help both partners identify patterns, cycles, and the protective ‘parts’ that may play a role in keeping you disconnected. I work to facilitate an environment of respect, compassion, vulnerability, and emotional intimacy. In doing so, we can shift from feeling dysregulated, shut down, blamed, and reactive, to feeling curious, open, empathetic, playful, and safe. Through our work together, my hope is to find a way for conflicts to become opportunities to learn more about each other, and ultimately feel more secure in the relationship.

Contact Me: 

Email:  lbarktherapy@gmail.com