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Lara Ashbaugh

Therapist profile

Lara Ashbaugh, LPC

Missouri

Licensed Professional Counselor - Anger and Anxiety

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Key details

  • CredentialsLPC
  • LicenseLPC, Missouri / 2007035135
  • NPI1629396239
  • Experience10 years
  • LanguagesEnglish
  • LocationMissouri

About

  • CBT methods
  • DBT skills
  • Mindfulness practice

About Lara

Lara Ashbaugh is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Missouri with 10 years of clinical experience. She helps people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and parenting challenges, and anger. She also works with clients facing addictions, ADHD, bipolar concerns, and career or life transitions.

Her approach blends cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), with strong use of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for emotion regulation and coping skills. Sessions are interactive and focus on practical skills people can use right away. She draws on mindfulness practices and motivational interviewing to support behavior change.

Lara places attention on what is going well and builds on existing strengths. She avoids stigmatizing labels and treats people with respect and sensitivity. In sessions she will talk through specific problems, practice skills, and set small, manageable goals.

She has experience assisting people who have experienced trauma and abuse, and she addresses related issues such as dissociation, guilt and shame, and communication problems. Lara also offers support around adoption and foster care, aging and caregiver stress, and topics related to gender and sexual culture.

Her background includes roles as a therapist, supervisor, and teacher, bringing a practical focus to skills training and coaching. The work tends to be direct and collaborative, aimed at clearer coping strategies and improved day-to-day functioning.

How sessions work

How her approaches work for online sessions

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps clients notice unhelpful thoughts and choose actions that match their values. It is useful for stress, anxiety, and life transitions when someone wants clearer direction. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on changing patterns of thinking and behavior through practical exercises and homework. It is often used for anxiety, depression, and anger to build better responses to triggers. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches concrete skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and improving relationships, which can be helpful when strong emotions are a recurring problem.

Choosing an approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with the client to figure out which methods fit their needs and goals. Sessions can adapt as progress is made, blending techniques such as mindfulness, CBT exercises, and DBT skills practice so the plan evolves with the client's preferences.

Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current online session options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. They also let people practice skills in their everyday routines and bring real-life situations into session work.

Areas of focus

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

Listed in

Missouri

Languages

English

Questions

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does she help with?

She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, anger, addictions, ADHD, and related life challenges listed in her profile.

What is her therapeutic style like?

Her style is interactive and skill-focused, combining CBT and ACT with DBT and mindfulness techniques for emotion regulation.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has 10 years of experience as a therapist, supervisor, and teacher.

What credential does she hold and where is she based?

She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensed in Missouri.

Are sessions offered in other languages?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can international clients work with her?

She does not accept international clients at this time.

How much do sessions cost?

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

How do I begin working with her?

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

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 unsafe, use the crisis numbers.

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Lara Ashbaugh

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