Helping Bridge the Gaps

Lauren Krause Nickum specializes in individual and group therapy with adults and adolescents. She is an experienced drug and alcohol counselor and a certified substance abuse counselor. Her areas of focus include working with survivors of trauma and sexual assault, recovery, relapse prevention, anger management, and mood disorders. 

 

Lauren specializes in a number of issues including:

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• Anxiety

• Depression and Bipolar Disorder

• Adjustments, transitions and other life stressors

• Dual diagnosis

• Substance abuse and dependency including chronic relapse

• Codependency and codependent relationships

• Trauma and PTSD

• Sexual abuse and assault

• Recovery from abusive relationships

• Improving self-esteem, self-acceptance, and empowerment

• Anger management

• Coping skills

In working with substance abuse issues, Lauren is experienced in treating clients recovering from substance abuse as well as those beginning to explore the need to look at their use of alcohol or other substances. She is also experienced with working with people who have experienced trauma. Recovery includes working on root issues that are related to each person’s substance use.

Lauren is also trained in and practices a method known as “Traumatic Incident Reduction” (TIR) and “Unblocking” to help clients resolve their trauma. This is an evidence based approach that helps clients resolve their trauma and remove the emotional charge from issues in their lives that are keeping them stuck. This approach moves at a comfortable pace for the client and puts them in control.

Lauren is also experienced in Motivational Interviewing. Lauren finds this an appropriate and beneficial approach for clients in early recovery, as well as for those who have already sustained recovery for a length of time. This approach helps people to enhance their own motivation to change or to maintain change.

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Professional Background
Lauren provides therapy at Across Counseling. Lauren holds a Masters in Clinical Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). She is also a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC).  Lauren received her certification from the Commonwealth of Virginia Board of Counseling who governs the certification and regulation of Substance Abuse Counselors.

Prior to joining Across Counseling, Lauren interned at the Alexandria Sexual Assault Center where she provided services for survivors of sexual assault including hospital and court accompaniment, crisis intervention, crisis hotline support, individual psychotherapy, community outreach and education.

She also interned at The Women’s Center in Vienna, Virginia where she provided individual psychotherapy to adults, adolescents, and couples. Areas of experience included anxiety disorders, adjustment disorders, mood disorders, domestic violence, and trauma.

Lauren also worked as a Substance Abuse Counselor II for the Fairfax County Government CSB where she provided clinical services and case management to adults diagnosed with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders.

Other experience includes a position as Residential Specialist at Phoenix House in Arlington, VA where Lauren provided group therapy and monitoring to adolescent girls (age 14-18) diagnosed with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders in a residential treatment setting.

 

As well as providing therapy at Across Counseling, Lauren is a supervisor for the Fairfax County CSB where she also provides clinical services to adults diagnosed with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders.

 

Insurance​

We can provide statements for clients who wish to submit for insurance reimbursement.