Therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp. We will earn a commission at no additional cost to you if you use our links to purchase.

Laura Phen

Therapist profile

Laura Phen, LPC

South Dakota

Licensed Professional Counselor - Relationships and Trauma

Continue with Laura

About

  • CBT techniques
  • DBT skills
  • Mindfulness practice

About Laura

Laura Phen is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with 25 years of clinical experience based in South Dakota. She focuses on relationship concerns, trauma and abuse, intimacy issues, anxiety, depression, parenting strain, and related challenges. Laura helps adults who are dealing with stress, grief, sleep disruption, ADHD questions, or shifts in career and self-esteem.

She uses straightforward talk and active listening to identify what matters most to each person. Sessions often include cognitive behavioral techniques to spot unhelpful thinking, and mindfulness practices to calm the body and mind. Dialectical behavior approaches are used when strong emotions or relationship patterns become overwhelming.

Laura draws on long clinical experience to help people handle compassion fatigue, anger, abandonment wounds, or the ripple effects of chronic illness. She also supports those managing post-traumatic stress, postpartum depression, seasonal mood changes, and issues related to veteran or first responder experiences. Her work includes practical strategies for sleep and daily routines.

Therapy with her tends to be direct and practical. She talks through patterns, tries small skill-based changes, and revisits what is working. People are encouraged to bring concrete problems from home, work, and parenting into the conversation.

Sessions are offered in English. Before booking, readers should confirm current session options and how scheduling is handled. To begin, visitors will be invited to complete a short questionnaire and arrange a first meeting.

How sessions work

How her approaches translate to online work

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and understanding each person's concerns and priorities. It helps people feel heard and guides the therapist in choosing useful techniques.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going. It is practical for anxiety, depression, sleep issues, and many daily stressors by teaching small experiments and new ways of thinking.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and communication skills. Those tools are useful when strong emotions, anger, or relationship patterns create repeated conflict.

Deciding which approach to use is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and what seems to help in early sessions. Together they will try methods and adjust the plan based on what is most effective for the client's life and challenges.

Confirm current session options before booking because formats are not listed in the profile. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into weekdays or evenings, shorten check-ins when life is busy, or reduce travel time. Licensed professionals can also use phone or video in ways that match a client's schedule and needs, and the therapist will explain available options when arranging the first appointment.

Areas of focus

Areas of expertise

Also works with

Stress, AnxietyGriefSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoachingADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommunication problemsEmptinessFirst responder issuesGuilt and shameIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness Therapy

Experience

25+ years

Listed in

Washington, Oregon, Illinois, Utah, South Dakota, Arizona

Languages

English

Questions

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems does she help with?

She works with relationship concerns, trauma and abuse, intimacy issues, anxiety, depression, parenting strain, and related areas listed in her profile.

What is her therapy style like?

Her approach is practical and conversational. She uses client-centered methods alongside CBT, DBT, and mindfulness to address patterns and teach skills.

How much experience does she have?

She has 25 years of professional experience supporting adults with a wide range of emotional and relationship concerns.

What are her credentials and location?

She is an LPC and practices from South Dakota. Her listed licensure includes AZ LPC and OR LPC in addition to the LPC credential shown.

Does she work in other languages or with international clients?

Sessions are offered in English. She is not currently accepting international clients.

What session formats are available?

Please confirm current session formats before booking, as the profile does not specify which formats are offered.

How does payment work and what does it cost?

Cost varies with location. Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How do I get started with a first session?

Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session through the provided booking flow.

Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.

Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is in danger, use the crisis numbers.

Back to all therapists

Laura Phen

Continue with Laura