- Stress and anxiety
- Relationship challenges
- Trauma recovery
About Lara
Lara Shemali is a licensed mental health counselor with 29 years of experience in Washington. She focuses on helping people manage stress and anxiety, work through relationship challenges, and recover from trauma and abuse. She also supports people dealing with depression and various addictions as they rebuild motivation and self-esteem.
She uses straightforward, practical tools to reduce stress and ease anxious thinking. Sessions aim to be open and nonjudgmental so people can share what matters to them. She invites people to take the first step and acknowledges how hard that can feel.
Her work includes helping people with attachment and abandonment concerns, commitment and communication issues, and problems related to body image or blended family dynamics. She also addresses challenges tied to chronic pain, illness, and disability, and helps people facing substance use and recovery.
Lara draws on approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Emotionally-Focused Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Existential Therapy to match the needs of each person. She talks through options with clients and adapts techniques to real life situations.
She understands busy schedules and offers weekday hours with the possibility of evenings and weekends when available. International clients may be accepted. To begin, she asks people to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a session that fits their timing.
How her approaches translate to online therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings while choosing actions that match their values. It is useful for anxiety, stress, and finding direction when motivation is low. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on practical steps to change unhelpful thinking and behavior, which can reduce anxiety and lift low mood in everyday life.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, needs, and preferences and then recommend or combine methods. That collaboration makes it easier to try techniques that fit a person’s life and to adjust the plan as progress unfolds.
Confirm the specific online session formats before booking because this profile does not list them. Online sessions can make it simpler to fit therapy into a busy routine, offering options that reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Some formats also work better for people who prefer not to be on camera or who need to join from different time zones. Licensed professionals can use a range of approaches online to help with stress, relationships, trauma recovery, and addiction support, adapting exercises and conversations to the virtual setting.
Areas of focus
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does Lara address?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, relationship challenges, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem, and depression. Her work also covers addictions, communication problems, and attachment issues.
What is her general therapeutic style?
She uses a warm, practical, and nonjudgmental approach. Sessions focus on clear tools and conversations that fit everyday life.
How long has she been practicing?
She has 29 years of professional experience providing counseling and related support.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a licensed mental health counselor, LMHC, practicing in Washington.
Which languages are available and can international clients participate?
Sessions are offered in English, and she accepts international clients.
What session formats are offered?
Please confirm current session options before booking since formats are not specified in the profile.
How is cost handled?
Cost varies with location and the therapist's scheduling; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.