Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Ross.
Hi Lauren, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
When I was in high school and people asked me what I “wanted to be” when I grew up, my first instinct was “professional volunteer”. I’ve always identified as a helper and been fascinated by how people think. This led me to a bachelor’s degree in psychology from The University of Texas where the idea of becoming a counselor sprouted. I continued my education at St. Edward’s University where I earned my master’s in counseling. After passing my state licensure exams and completing 3000 hours of supervised practice, I became fully licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist as well as a Licensed Professional Counselor. I was, and remain to be, fascinated by the ways people behave, think, and feel in relationships. I practice from a systemic lens. Which, in non-clinical terms, can be understood as “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”. After five years of agency work focused on empowering complex high-conflict families, it became abundantly clear to me that the need for preventative care was overwhelming and yet somehow, practically nonexistent. This inspired me to start my own practice, Texas Premarital Counseling, offering services exclusively within the scope of preventative relational wellness.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Leaving the security of an agency job was certainly intimidating. Consistent salary, benefits, and a supportive team environment are undeniable perks. However, if I was going to truly become an expert, I knew I needed to fly the nest, define my niche, and build a practice exclusively for it. The trickiest, and most exciting, part has been pushing ahead into somewhat uncharted territory. Almost all mental and relational healthcare are based in the premise that something is “wrong”. So much so that to even bill insurance a counselor must diagnose their clients. I see this as stigmatizing and perpetuating broken cycles. Just as physically healthy people attend wellness checkups, eat balanced diets, and exercise regularly, mentally and relationally healthy people take proactive and preventative measures, too.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Texas Premarital Counseling was created to empower couples to build proactive healthy habits that safeguard their relationships. The services I offer are short-term and preventative; unlike many traditional therapeutic models in which couples might only seek support when their relationship was on the brink of collapse. My goal is to provide a service that clients are so excited by and proud of, they would confidently refer their friends- just like they might for a cool new restaurant or band. I recognize that many clients might not be completely sure what they want to work on when first contacting me. That’s absolutely fine- you don’t know what you don’t know! To help with this, I use assessment tools and offer a balance of structure that allows for thorough exploration, while still moving at the client’s pace. Because the counseling services I provide are online, I am able to work with clients across the state of Texas.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I think we are already seeing a massive shift in public opinion. Many people, especially millennials and gen-z, are embracing therapy and therefore destigmatizing mental health care. I see this as a natural progression towards preventative care. Instead of waiting until they are experiencing emotional or relational anguish, I anticipate clients of the future will be seeking support to develop healthy habits, deepen self-awareness, and use them to manage their lives more actively. Basically, a paradigm shift from reactive illness-focus to proactive wellness-focus.
Contact Info:
- Email: lauren@premaritaltexas.com
- Website: premaritaltexas.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Texas-Premarital-Counseling-347698053003617
- Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/texas-premarital-counseling-austin-tx/834007
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