About

Laura Cousins, LCSW has been providing mental and behavioral health counseling to children, families and adults since 1996. She holds two Bachelor’s degrees: one in Human Services from Upper Iowa University and one in English and Geography from University of South Florida. Her Master’s degree is in Social Work with a clinical emphasis from the University of Northern Iowa. Her license to practice independently is LCSW #13523 in the state of Arizona and LISW #04024 in the state of Iowa. Laura has been voted Best of Sedona, Counselor for the past 10 years in Sedona, Arizona. Phone number: 928-592-2252 Laura has unique experience not only as a clinician, but also as a foster/adoptive parent, parenting children who are exhibiting severe emotional and behavioral pain. She understands and empathizes with the difficulties and stress that can be overwhelming at times for a parent who cares for a child with impaired functioning and disruptive behavior as a result of that pain. Laura provides an empathetic and straight-forward approach to helping parents, using evidence-based theory and practice, primarily cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Since every family is unique, treatment is tailored to a family’s specific needs and strengths. Adult clients are welcome, too! SPECIALIZATIONS: Adults: anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, stage of life issues, adjustment to life changes, stress management, attachment and abandonment difficulties, narcissistic abuse, borderline personality disorder, codependency, healing from toxic relationships, grief and loss, dream interpretation. Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence: Laura is proficient in helping young people learn to communicate and problem-solve in healthy ways, identify concerns and express themselves, and work through life's challenges that are unique to their needs. Art therapy, music therapy, and the ability to safely get on the level of a child or adolescent are among the strengths that Laura's clients appreciate about her counseling skills. Laura also specializes in helping parents find effective ways to respond to and manage challenging behaviors in their children, including those behaviors associated with ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety and Depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Reactive Attachment Disorder. Victims of Trauma: What is traumatic to one person may not be to another. There are many forms of trauma that an individual can experience, including but not limited to: physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, neglect, traumatic accidents or disasters, illnesses, separation from a parent, divorce, perception of abandonment by a parent or caretaker, rejection from peers, toxic relationships. Adopted children and families, Foster children: Laura has extensive training, experience and success in helping parents, foster parents, and adoptive parents learn about the core beliefs and underlying needs of children who have behavioral, developmental, and emotional challenges as a result of their early histories. She can provide parents with proven skills and techniques that are most effective with children who have difficulty trusting and attaching and seem to be in a constant power struggle. Behaviors associated with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) can be very draining for parents, and Laura has successfully helped many parents and children significantly reduce the tension and constant stress in the home. Divorce/Blended families: Children of divorce and blended families often have feelings of insecurity and abandonment, which will present themselves in different ways, such as anger, defiance, depression, mood swings, anxiety, low self-esteem, attention seeking, and manipulation. Laura can help parents understand what is happening underneath those behaviors and help their child heal.