Grace Lawrie

Counseling Intern

Supervised by Jill Baumgarner, LPC

Grace is a Counseling Intern with a passion for supporting individuals and couples in their quest for authenticity and intimacy. Beginning therapy can often be intimidating, but Grace is dedicated to creating a safe, judgment free, and affirming environment in which to explore.

Grace sees couples (or relational units of any size) seeking to create more empathy and trust in their bond, deepen their sense of connection, and respark their passion. Through the counseling process, couples can develop a deeper understanding of each other's needs and perspectives, and learn effective communication skills that help strengthen their relationship. Couples counseling can also help identify and address underlying issues that may be impacting the relationship, such as past traumas or mental health concerns, and provide support in navigating difficult life transitions.

Grace also sees individuals who may be struggling in their sense of connection to others or themselves, who are exploring their identities, or working through pieces of the past that may keep them from being fully present.

Some common presenting concerns include gender and sexual identity, relationship or marriage issues, anxiety and depression, trauma, self-esteem or body image issues, desire discrepancy, and codependency.

Approach to Counseling

Grace's approach to therapy is grounded in mind-body connection and draws from both Internal Family Systems and Gestalt approaches along with somatic practices.

She helps clients reconnect with their bodies and experience the interconnection of their thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. She believes that it is essential to understand the internal dynamics of each individual and how they contribute to the larger relational context.

Grace encourages self-exploration by cultivating curiosity over judgment; through helping clients more easily identify and attune to their emotions, they can feel more present and engaged in their lives and form more meaningful connections with their partners.

Education

Grace is in her Clinical Internship semesters for her Master's Degree in Counseling from Texas State University. Her expected graduation is Fall 2023.

Grace has specialized training in supporting neurodiverse and autistic couples through the AANE Peter M. Friedman Neurodiverse Couples Institute. She is currently completing her level 2 certification.

She is a member of Sigma Tau Sigma, the ACA, and AAMFT.