We had the good fortune of connecting with Lauren Thomas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Throughout my education as a Graduate student, I was dead set on a becoming a couple’s therapist specializing in sex issues and intimacy. It was right around my second year, during my Diversity course (ironically) that I realized this field isn’t built for Clinicians of Color nor is it built for Clients of Color. A non-Black professor of mine, in an attempt to educate non-Black students about bystander behavior in racism, repeated racial slurs re: the Black community-my community-during class. Myself and two other Black classmates of mine experienced, what I can only describe in hindsight, a collective trauma response.

I was quite disillusioned up until that point about racial safety in academia, especially counseling psychology. That experience really spring boarded my goal in providing secure and affirming spaces for Black women in psychotherapy. Moving forward, I was determined to fill the much-needed gap in the therapy field and in the summer of 2020, I experienced several moments of ostracism in the field re: my goals of supporting Black and other POC clients. It wasn’t until I found two phenomenal supervisors who allowed me to foster my own style and psychological perspectives that I truly hit the gas and created Therapy With LT.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
So currently, I work as an MFT in private practice out of Los Angeles, focusing primarily on Black womxn, Womxn of Color, as well as other folks who identify with intersectional and marginalized experiences. I’m definitely not the only one out there providing therapeutic space for these communities, but I will say I’m most proud of providing a style of therapy that continues to resonate with the newer wave of clients. I call them my “now what” clients…those of us who have the insight. but we’re still a bit “itchy” to make a change but feel caged in. We’re in such a beautiful space as a society and community that we can dig beyond insight and awareness. We can work towards liberation, authenticity, rebellion in the form of rejuvenation.

It’s been a difficult journey mentally, navigating imposter syndrome has been the more difficult obstacle in it all, and I absolutely thank my mentors and community for keeping my head above water and reminding me of my strength when I struggle to remember it. This career can take a lot out of you. Having the right support and community there, to catch you when you need it, is pivotal to the journey!

The biggest lesson learned along the way is the necessary discomfort in sitting with the idea that we can’t “therapy” our way out of oppressive systems, but Therapy can serve as a means to remain focused and keep in line with our wider purpose of liberation (however that presents for a person). Oppressive systems are meant to knock us down, but there is so much power in sharing that weight, in therapy and in community, in order to keep getting back up every single day.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Okay I’m going to fail this one, for sure. I was just telling a friend I need to leave my house more!

Itinerary is as follows!

Breakfast/Coffee: GoodPeople Coffee in Santa Monica (they’re a “brown-owned coffee joint” with a bomb menu and they’re always playing HipHop/R&B classics! Ask for the Espresso Tonic, it’s my favorite!

Lunch: I’m a sucker for this little Italian place in Hollywood called L’Antica Pizzeria de Michele (the pizza is to die for)!

Dinner: For a good drink and some nice views before sunset, I’m a regular at Paradise Cove or The Sunset in Malibu (sit outside for some good ‘feet in the sand’ action while you eat) or we can hit up Shabuya in K-Town for some amazing Korean Hot Pot!

Honorable mention: The Treehouse in LA for Latin night!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to dedicated this Shoutout to the amazing Supervisors in my life who allowed me the space to create an affirming space for my clients, in a way others denied. To Susan Levin, LMFT and Hallie Gnatovich, LMFT, thank you so much for your limitless support in my work and for seeing my potential when I struggled to!

Website: www.therapywithlt.com

Instagram: @therapywithlt

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