Lauren Hawthorne, MSW, RSW

Hi! I’m Lauren, a Clinical Therapist and Registered Social Worker (RSW). I
offer warm and enthusiastic evidence-based therapy to school-aged
children and their caregivers who are struggling with anxiety, OCD, depression, ADHD, emotion regulation, trauma, and/or the parent-child relationship. I have completed graduate studies in both health sciences (MSc) and social work (MSW).

Some children have big worries. Some have big feelings. Unfortunately, big
feelers often garner attention, not for their extraordinary emotional capacity,
but for the sometimes maladaptive ways they cope. Internalizing children
may engage in reassurance seeking, people pleasing, avoidant and/or self-
critical behaviours. Meanwhile, externalizers may make their feelings
known through verbal or physical aggression, meltdowns, and property
destruction. Wherever a child may fall on this spectrum, parents may be left
feeling frustrated, ashamed, overwhelmed, and like they are unable to meet
their loved one’s needs.

You don’t have a problem child, and you aren’t the problem either. I know
that big feeling families love each other fiercely. I believe the conflict and
crises they find themselves stuck in are not inevitable or a reflection of who
they are, individually or as a family. Rather, these pain-points are produced
and reproduced by unhelpful patterns of interaction with emotions and with
one another.

While every family is unique, some common concerns of those that I work with include:

• Anxiety and excessive worry, sometimes accompanied by compulsive behaviours (e.g., OCD)

• Depression or persistent low mood

• ADHD, emotion dysregulation and/or behavioural challenges

• Complex and single-incident trauma

• Parenting challenges

• Relationship concerns (i.e., parent/child conflict)

What will we do?

It’s time to do something differently. Together, we can reconnect with what is most important to you and shape your parenting practices to align with these values. We can initiate relationship repair, build attunement, and facilitate co-regulation with your child.

How will we do it?

My work is grounded in inclusion, non-judgment, curiosity, and empathy. I am guided by principles of trauma-informed care and hold client choice, voice, and psychological safety at the centre of every therapeutic interaction. My practice incorporates elements of Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) as well as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Whether you have questions about my approach or want to assess whether I am the right fit for you and your family, I am happy to have a free 15-minute telephone consultation. If you’re ready to dive in, utilize the button below for scheduling. I can’t wait to meet you!