- Thoughts and habits
- Skills-based approach
- Warm collaborative style
About Lara
Lara Ashbaugh is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Missouri who focuses on thoughts and everyday habits that shape how people feel and act. She draws on cognitive and acceptance-based methods to help people notice unhelpful thinking and make small, practical changes. Her voice in session is warm and interactive, and she centers each conversation on the person in front of her.
With ten years of professional experience, she has supported people working through depression, anxiety, grief, and major life changes. She also helps those facing addiction, trauma and abuse, ADHD, bipolar concerns, and stress from caregiving or career strain. She pays attention to areas like body image, gender dysphoria, fertility and adoption issues, and concerns tied to kink or alternative sexual culture.
Her style mixes cognitive behavioral techniques with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy tools. She emphasizes practical skills - for example, learning new coping techniques, shifting everyday habits, and spotting patterns that keep problems going. Sessions aim to build on what is already working in a person’s life.
Lara avoids stigmatizing labels and treats people with respect and sensitivity. She collaborates on a plan that fits each person's goals and situation. If someone is ready to make changes, she offers steady support and clear options to try in between sessions.
Clients can expect straightforward conversation, goal-focused work, and attention to daily routines and thinking patterns that affect wellbeing.
With ten years of professional experience, she has supported people working through depression, anxiety, grief, and major life changes. She also helps those facing addiction, trauma and abuse, ADHD, bipolar concerns, and stress from caregiving or career strain. She pays attention to areas like body image, gender dysphoria, fertility and adoption issues, and concerns tied to kink or alternative sexual culture.
Her style mixes cognitive behavioral techniques with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy tools. She emphasizes practical skills - for example, learning new coping techniques, shifting everyday habits, and spotting patterns that keep problems going. Sessions aim to build on what is already working in a person’s life.
Lara avoids stigmatizing labels and treats people with respect and sensitivity. She collaborates on a plan that fits each person's goals and situation. If someone is ready to make changes, she offers steady support and clear options to try in between sessions.
Clients can expect straightforward conversation, goal-focused work, and attention to daily routines and thinking patterns that affect wellbeing.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
AddictionsLGBTTrauma and abuseParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD
Additional focus areas
Adoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesBDSM, kink, and alternative sex cultureBody imageCaregiver issues and stressCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDissociationDivorce and separationEmptinessFamily problemsFertility issuesGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHearing impairedHIV / AIDSHoardingHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMoney and financial issuesMood disordersObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPhobiasPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issues
Therapeutic approaches
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused Therapy
Experience
10+ years
Credentials
Missouri
Languages
English
How therapeutic approaches fit into online work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on noticing thoughts and choosing actions that match what matters most. It helps when worry or negative thinking keeps someone from living the life they want. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at links between thoughts, behaviors, and feelings and teaches practical steps to change unhelpful thinking patterns and daily routines. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and better ways of interacting when feelings feel overwhelming.Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work together with each person to decide which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences. That might mean blending ACT, CBT, and DBT tools and adjusting the plan as progress is made.
Confirm which session formats are being offered before booking so you know how sessions will be held. Online work can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy week, shorten check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Some people find remote sessions help maintain consistency with small, goal-focused homework between meetings. Ask about format options when you schedule to choose what will work best for your routine.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Lara commonly address?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, coping with life changes, addictions, ADHD, trauma and abuse, and related issues such as body image or caregiver stress.
What is Lara's therapy style like?
Her style is warm and interactive, focusing on practical skills and clear steps. She works collaboratively and tailors sessions to individual needs.
How long has she been practicing?
Lara has ten years of experience working as a therapist, supervisor, and teacher in clinical settings.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds an LPC, which stands for Licensed Professional Counselor, and practices in Missouri.
In which language are sessions offered?
Sessions are offered in English and she does not take international clients.
What session formats are available?
Confirm current session options before booking to learn which formats are being offered for scheduling and sessions.
How are costs handled for sessions?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with Lara?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.