Laura Shaw, LMFT

Laura Shaw is a licensed marriage and family therapist with 24 years of professional experience in California. She focuses on helping people manage stress and anxiety, cope with grief and loss, and address parenting concerns. Her approach aims to create an open space where clients can speak honestly without judgment. In session she listens first and responds to what matters most to each person. She uses Client-Centered Therapy to follow the client’s pace and priorities, and draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thoughts and try new behavior patterns. Sessions tend to be practical and focused on small, manageable steps. She often supports people working through life changes, including separation or divorce and challenges around caregiving. Other areas she addresses include attachment concerns, communication problems, forgiveness, guilt and shame, self-esteem, and finding life purpose. Women's issues and self-love are also part of her practice. Laura emphasizes collaboration. She works with clients to set goals and choose strategies that fit their daily lives. Progress is framed as gradual and based on workable changes rather than instant fixes. For parents and carers looking for help, she combines listening with concrete tools to ease daily strain. Anyone considering therapy is encouraged to start by describing immediate needs so sessions can be tailored from the first meeting.

How her approaches translate to online care

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and responding to what the client says matters most. It helps people feel heard and shapes goals from their priorities rather than imposing a plan. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches practical ways to test and change unhelpful patterns, which can be useful for anxiety, stress, and mood concerns.

Choosing the right approach is a team effort. The therapist will work with clients to decide which methods fit their goals, needs, and day-to-day life. That collaborative process can include trying a few techniques and adjusting based on what feels most helpful.

For online therapy specifics, please confirm available session options before booking. In general, remote sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. They can also ease access for caregivers juggling appointments and other responsibilities. The emphasis is on making therapy practical and usable within everyday life rather than promising any particular outcome.