Lara Ashbaugh

Lara Ashbaugh is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in Missouri who blends practical skills with a warm, interactive style. She focuses on helping people manage strong emotions, build coping skills, and move toward goals. Lara draws on cognitive-behavioral and acceptance-based methods to support day-to-day changes.

She has about 10 years of experience working in therapy, supervision, and teaching roles. That background informs how she structures sessions and explains tools. Clients bring a wide range of concerns, including stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addiction, ADHD, and anger. Lara also supports people facing trauma, emotional abuse, and identity concerns such as gender dysphoria or LGBT-related stress.

Lara uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) techniques to help with emotions, coping, and relationships. She also incorporates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), cognitive-behavioral strategies, and mindfulness practices to help people notice what matters and take small steps toward it. She looks for strengths to build on rather than focusing only on problems.

Her sessions are collaborative. She listens first, then tailors conversations and plans to each person’s situation. She avoids stigmatizing labels and treats people with respect, sensitivity, and compassion.

If someone is ready to make changes, Lara aims to support and empower that process through practical skills, clearer goals, and steady encouragement.

Blending evidence-based approaches for online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice what matters to them and take small, committed steps toward those values. It uses exercises to build willingness around difficult thoughts and emotions and is useful for stress, anxiety, and life changes.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and trying practical behavior changes. It typically includes homework and skill practice, which can help with depression, anxiety, and anger management.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to pick methods that match their needs, goals, and preferences. That means trying strategies, checking what helps, and adjusting course together.

Session formats are not specified in the biography, so please confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. It also supports working on real-life situations between sessions, practicing skills in day-to-day moments, and keeping continuity of care when schedules or locations change.