A group of zebras gather by a gently moving river. The zebras slowly walk off one by one, the last one in the group stops and looks at the camera several times. The background is a pastel mountain-scape with bright green grass.
Rowan Crawfish, LPC, ATR-P, NCC
She/her/hers
I know what it’s like to feel unseen, dismissed, or like your struggles don’t quite fit the mold of what people expect. Maybe you’ve been told your pain is all in your head, that you’re too sensitive, or that you just need to try harder—but deep down, you know there’s more to the story. Whether you’re navigating chronic illness, unlearning harmful narratives about your body, processing trauma, or exploring your identity, this is a space where you don’t have to explain or justify your experience. You are already enough, just as you are.
Above all, my goal is to meet you where you are, help you feel seen, and support you in creating a life that feels like yours—not one shaped by survival alone. Therapy should be a space where you can exist fully, without apology. I’m here to help you build that space.
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You deserve a space where you don’t have to shrink yourself, mask your needs, or explain why the world feels overwhelming. As a queer, neurodivergent, chronically ill, fat, secular therapist, I know firsthand how hard it can be to find care that truly gets it. Whether you’re navigating complex trauma, living in a body that the world wasn’t built for, processing medical trauma, or unlearning years of masking and self-doubt, I offer a therapeutic space where you are seen, you are valid, and you don’t have to fit into anyone else’s mold.
My practice is client-led, social justice-oriented, and deeply affirming. I work primarily with queer, neurodivergent, and chronically ill individuals, as well as those with CPTSD and systemic trauma, recognizing that healing doesn’t happen in a vacuum—it happens in relationship, in safety, and in a space that honors all of who you are. Therapy with me isn’t about forcing change or following rigid models; it’s about collaborating, experimenting, and finding what actually works for you in ways that are sustainable and empowering.
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I integrate Attachment-Based Therapy, Art Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), mindfulness, and somatic approaches, tailoring each session to what you need in the moment. If you’ve ever struggled to put words to your experiences, art-based and body-focused practices can offer new ways to explore and express what feels unnameable. If past therapy has felt invalidating or too structured, we’ll create a space that centers your autonomy, your way of processing, and your unique strengths.
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What is chronic conditions affirming therapy?
Chronic illness and chronic conditions affirming therapy is about creating a space where your experiences are validated, your struggles are acknowledged, and your whole self—not just your diagnosis—is seen and supported. Too often, people with chronic conditions are dismissed, invalidated, or told it’s “all in their head.” This therapy is the opposite of that. It’s a place where you don’t have to prove your pain or justify your experience.
I recognize that chronic illness impacts more than just the physical—it affects your mental health, relationships, identity, and daily life in ways others may not understand. Together, we’ll navigate the emotional toll of living with a chronic condition (or a dozen), process medical trauma, unpack internalized ableism, and explore ways to advocate for yourself while honoring your body’s needs. Most importantly, this is a space where you are believed, supported, and empowered to move through life in a way that works for you.
Medical Trauma
Medical trauma isn’t just about life-threatening emergencies or major procedures—it can happen in routine check-ups, minor interventions, and any medical experience where your autonomy was ignored or your consent wasn’t fully considered. Maybe a doctor dismissed your pain, performed a procedure without explaining your options, or made decisions about your body without truly involving you. Even seemingly “small” violations can leave lasting emotional and physical scars, especially when they reinforce a pattern of being unheard or disrespected in medical spaces.
Neurodivergent individuals, including autistic folks and folks with ADHD, experience medical trauma at significantly higher rates. Sensory sensitivities, communication barriers, and a history of not being taken seriously can make medical settings feel overwhelming or even dangerous. Research has shown that autistic individuals are more likely to experience PTSD symptoms, often due to distressing medical interactions and a lack of consent-based care. If medical settings feel unsafe to you, that response makes sense—it’s not in your head.
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For neurodivergent clients, I take a fully affirming, non-pathologizing approach, recognizing that many struggles come not from being neurodivergent but from living in a world that doesn’t accommodate you. We might explore masking, sensory needs, executive functioning challenges, or unlearning internalized ableism, always with the understanding that you don’t need to change who you are to deserve support.
I specialize in working with late-diagnosed autistic and auDHD folks who are navigating the realization that their past experiences, struggles, and coping mechanisms make so much more sense in light of their diagnosis. This can bring relief, but it can also bring grief—grief for past needs that went unmet, for the ways you had to force yourself to fit in, or for relationships that didn’t survive once you started showing up as your full self. Together, we’ll process that grief, unlearn harmful narratives, and explore ways to advocate for yourself while embracing what truly works for you. This is a space where you are fully seen, understood, and supported exactly as you are.
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You don’t have to explain or justify who you are here—you are already seen, believed, and valued exactly as you are. 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming therapy isn’t just about acceptance; it’s about actively supporting you in your identity, your experiences, and your right to exist fully and unapologetically.
Living in a world that isn’t always safe or affirming can be exhausting. Maybe you’ve been dismissed, invalidated, or forced to navigate spaces where you felt unseen or unsafe. Therapy with me is a place where you don’t have to hide parts of yourself, soften your truth, or wonder if you’ll be judged. This is a space where all of you is welcome—your identity, your relationships, your experiences, your emotions, and your story.
Whether you’re:
🏳️⚧️ Exploring gender or sexuality and seeking clarity, affirmation, or support
💔 Processing past harm, rejection, or family dynamics that have impacted your sense of self
🤝 Navigating relationships, chosen family, or boundaries in a way that feels aligned and safe
❤️ Unlearning internalized shame and rebuilding self-trust
🌿 Just wanting a therapist who truly gets it—without tiptoeing, assuming, or needing you to educate themWe’ll work together to reclaim your right to take up space, build a deeper connection with yourself, and create a life that feels authentic and fulfilling for you. You are not too much. You are not “wrong.” You are worthy of love, safety, and joy—exactly as you are.
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For clients with complex trauma and CPTSD, I focus on building nervous system regulation, increasing a sense of safety in relationships, and helping you reconnect with your own agency. We won’t force reprocessing or dive into the hardest moments before you’re ready. Instead, we’ll work together to develop tools that help you feel more grounded, more in control, and more able to engage with life on your terms.
Book a consultation with me:
*See bottom of profile page for licensure information under my legal name: Lauren St John
Therapy for people with chronic conditions
Do you have a chronic illness or six and feel like no one understands your lived experience?
Do you often find yourself not talking about your pain or symptoms because you are worried you’ll burden others or annoy them?
Does it feel like people have stopped inviting you to things or that your connections with people are fading away?
Are you feeling isolated with your chronic illness?
Are you tired of being gaslit at medical appointments?
Are you exhausted from bouncing from one appointment to the next and trying to juggle life and family as well?
As a clinician who not only has worked with many chronically ill folks but is also chronically ill and has a dynamic disability, I get it, and I see you.
I know that navigating the medical care system as a “zebra” can be so challenging and frustrating. Here, I see zebras, not horses, and I am here to support you and affirm your lived experience.
I can help you regulate your nervous system, find more peace day to day, get out of the boom-bust cycle, find joy, continue pursuing your hopes and dreams in a way that feels possible, advocate for yourself, accommodate yourself, and find community.
As a 2SLGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent clinician, I provide affirming and person centered support. I specialize in assisting late diagnosed neurodiverse adults learn how to accommodate themselves and build self compassion. I offer affirming exploration into neurotypes.
In my work with 2SLGBTQIA+, chronically ill, and neurodivergent adults navigating CPTSD, I center self-compassion, healing, and grief processing through an integrative approach. Using attachment-based therapy, I help clients understand relational patterns, rebuild trust, and strengthen their connections with themselves and others. Art therapy offers a space for creative expression beyond words, allowing for the processing of trauma, loss, and identity exploration in ways that are consent based and autonomy affirming. Empowerment and advocacy are woven into every session, ensuring clients feel seen, validated, and supported as they navigate systemic barriers and reclaim their narratives. Holistic practices, including mindfulness and somatic awareness, provide grounding tools to foster emotional regulation and deepen self-compassion. Through a social justice and attachment-based lens, I create a therapeutic space where clients can honor their grief, reconnect with themselves, and move toward healing.
CPTSD,
Neurodivergent affirming care, and
2SLGBTQIA+ affirming care
My art therapy services are rooted in social justice, neurodiversity affirming, fat liberatory, and queer-affirming, creating a space where clients can express themselves freely without fear of judgment or invalidation. I recognize that traditional talk therapy doesn’t always capture the full depth of experience, especially for those who have felt unseen, unheard, or dismissed in more conventional therapeutic settings.
My practice is consent and autonomy-based, ensuring that clients always have choice and control over their creative process. Clients are encouraged to work in whatever medium feels right for them—whether that’s painting, collage, sculpture, writing, music, drawing, movement, or something entirely different. There is no “right” way to engage in art therapy; clients can always change course, alter a directive, or adapt a task in a way that feels most comfortable and accommodating to them. I believe that healing happens when clients are empowered to engage on their own terms, in ways that honor their unique needs and capacities.
I also integrate art therapy as a tool for body liberation and acceptance, helping clients unlearn body shame, reconnect with their physical selves, and challenge internalized fatphobia.
Art Therapy
Through creative exploration, clients can process the impact of weight stigma, medical fatphobia, and unrealistic societal beauty standards while building a more compassionate, embodied relationship with themselves. Whether through self-portraiture, movement-based art, or expressive storytelling, my work supports clients in reclaiming their autonomy, honoring their bodies, and finding self-acceptance outside of oppressive narratives.
Through art-making, creative exploration, and nonverbal processing, I help clients access and express emotions that may be difficult to put into words. My work is especially supportive for neurodivergent individuals, 2SLGBTQIA+ clients, those living with chronic conditions, and people navigating complex trauma. Art therapy can be a powerful tool for processing identity, reclaiming body autonomy, unlearning internalized shame, and exploring emotional regulation in a way that feels safe and embodied.
With a deep understanding of the impact of systemic oppression, relational trauma, and chronic invalidation, I ensure that my practice is not just inclusive, but actively liberatory. Whether using paint, collage, sculpture, or movement, my approach prioritizes self-expression, empowerment, and self-compassion, meeting each client where they are. In my space, art is not about skill or perfection—it’s about using creativity as a tool for healing, self-exploration, and reclaiming the parts of yourself that the world may have told you to hide.
My Specialties
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Therapy isn’t about trying to fit into some version of what “healing” is supposed to look like. It’s about you—your pace, your needs, your experiences—without pressure, judgment, or expectations. Person-centered therapy means you are the expert on your own life, and I’m here to walk alongside you, not tell you who you should be.
And because I ask you to show up as your full, unfiltered self, I do the same. I don’t hide behind clinical detachment or a rigid idea of professionalism. You’ll find me dressed comfortably, fidgeting, stimming, and cursing when it fits—because therapy works best when we both get to be real. You don’t have to sit perfectly still, watch your words, or feel like you need to present yourself a certain way. Come as you are. Bring your emotions, your messiness, your silence, your laughter, your movement—everything is welcome here.
What This Looks Like in Our Work Together
You set the pace. We’ll explore what’s on your mind without rushing to solutions or forcing change before you’re ready.
No need to filter yourself. If you need to vent, stim, fidget, go off on tangents, or just sit quietly and process, it’s all okay.
I meet you where you are. Therapy isn’t about me “fixing” you—it’s about helping you trust yourself, tap into your strengths, and create change in a way that feels right for you.
You are accepted exactly as you are. Whether you’ve been told you’re “too much” or “not enough,” this space is for you to exist without apology.
Healing happens through real, honest connection—not through perfection or pretense. So come as you are, and I’ll meet you there.
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You deserve a space where you feel seen, heard, and valued—exactly as you are. A space where your identity, emotions, and lived experiences aren’t questioned or dismissed but honored and validated. Affirming, empowerment-based therapy isn’t about “fixing” you or telling you what to do—it’s about supporting you in reclaiming your voice, your autonomy, and your sense of self.
For many, the world has sent the message—through systemic oppression, invalidation, or past relationships—that they need to shrink, hide, or change to be accepted. Therapy is a place where we challenge those harmful narratives and work toward healing in a way that feels safe, authentic, and truly yours.
What This Looks Like in Our Work Together
Honoring your experiences without judgment—your story matters, and you don’t have to justify your feelings or your existence.
Rebuilding self-trust by unlearning shame, self-doubt, and the pressure to meet others’ expectations.
Developing tools for self-compassion, boundaries, and emotional regulation so that you feel more grounded and in control of your life.
Exploring the impact of oppression and systemic barriers while centering your resilience and agency.
Creating a path toward healing that feels right for you—because empowerment isn’t about fitting into someone else’s version of success, but about defining what it means for yourself.
This is your space to show up fully, be exactly who you are, and take up the space you deserve—without apology. Healing isn’t about becoming someone else; it’s about reconnecting with who you’ve always been. And you don’t have to do it alone.
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The way you connect with others—whether in relationships, friendships, or even your relationship with yourself—has been shaped by your past experiences. Maybe you’ve learned to push people away to protect yourself, or maybe you feel like you have to earn love and acceptance. Maybe deep down, you crave connection but also fear being hurt or abandoned. These patterns don’t appear out of nowhere; they are your nervous system’s response to past relationships, wounds, and unmet needs.
Through Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), we’ll explore how your past experiences have influenced your emotional world and the way you connect with others. EFIT is an attachment-based approach that helps you move from patterns of disconnection, self-doubt, or emotional overwhelm to feeling more secure, empowered, and connected—both with yourself and in your relationships. This isn’t about blaming the past but about understanding how your emotional blueprint was shaped so you can rewrite it in a way that serves you.
What Our Work Together Looks Like
In therapy, we’ll work together to:
Identify your attachment patterns and how they show up in your life, whether in relationships, friendships, or even your relationship with yourself.
Heal from past wounds that may still be impacting your sense of self-worth, emotional safety, or ability to trust others.
Strengthen emotional awareness and self-compassion so that you can feel more secure in your emotions instead of feeling overwhelmed or disconnected.
Develop a deeper sense of self-trust and connection by learning how to navigate vulnerability, express needs, and build relationships that feel safe and fulfilling.
The goal of this work isn’t to change who you are—it’s to help you feel more at home in yourself, more grounded in your relationships, and more confident in your ability to connect with others in a way that feels safe, mutual, and affirming. You don’t have to navigate this alone. Healing is possible, and it starts with understanding yourself with kindness.
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Trauma isn’t just about the big, obvious events—it can be the slow erosion of safety, the feeling of never being truly seen, or the weight of carrying too much for too long. It can come from childhood neglect, chronic invalidation, systemic oppression, medical trauma, or relationships where you felt unseen, unheard, or unworthy. Whatever your experience, your pain is real, your responses make sense, and you deserve a space where you feel safe, believed, and in control of your healing.Trauma-informed therapy isn’t about forcing you to relive the past or rushing your healing. Instead, we move at your pace, prioritizing safety, trust, and choice every step of the way. You are in control of your process. We’ll focus on:
Building a foundation of safety and nervous system regulation, so your body and mind don’t feel stuck in survival mode.
Exploring emotions with self-compassion, because healing isn’t about “getting over it” but about understanding yourself with kindness.
Unlearning survival patterns that no longer serve you, so you can shift from just getting through each day to actually living.
Reconnecting with your sense of self, so you can move forward in a way that feels authentic and empowering.
This is a space where you don’t have to justify your feelings or explain why certain things hurt as much as they do. Your experiences are valid. Your healing matters. And you don’t have to do it alone.
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My art therapy services are rooted in social justice, neurodiversity affirming, fat liberatory, and queer-affirming, creating a space where clients can express themselves freely without fear of judgment or invalidation. I recognize that traditional talk therapy doesn’t always capture the full depth of experience, especially for those who have felt unseen, unheard, or dismissed in more conventional therapeutic settings.
My practice is consent and autonomy-based, ensuring that clients always have choice and control over their creative process. Clients are encouraged to work in whatever medium feels right for them—whether that’s painting, collage, sculpture, writing, music, drawing, movement, or something entirely different. There is no “right” way to engage in art therapy; clients can always change course, alter a directive, or adapt a task in a way that feels most comfortable and accommodating to them. I believe that healing happens when clients are empowered to engage on their own terms, in ways that honor their unique needs and capacities.
I also integrate art therapy as a tool for body liberation and acceptance, helping clients unlearn body shame, reconnect with their physical selves, and challenge internalized fatphobia. Through creative exploration, clients can process the impact of weight stigma, medical fatphobia, and unrealistic societal beauty standards while building a more compassionate, embodied relationship with themselves. Whether through self-portraiture, movement-based art, or expressive storytelling, my work supports clients in reclaiming their autonomy, honoring their bodies, and finding self-acceptance outside of oppressive narratives.
Through art-making, creative exploration, and nonverbal processing, I help clients access and express emotions that may be difficult to put into words. My work is especially supportive for neurodivergent individuals, 2SLGBTQIA+ clients, those living with chronic conditions, and people navigating complex trauma. Art therapy can be a powerful tool for processing identity, reclaiming body autonomy, unlearning internalized shame, and exploring emotional regulation in a way that feels safe and embodied.
With a deep understanding of the impact of systemic oppression, relational trauma, and chronic invalidation, I ensure that my practice is not just inclusive, but actively liberatory. Whether using paint, collage, sculpture, or movement, my approach prioritizes self-expression, empowerment, and self-compassion, meeting each client where they are. In my space, art is not about skill or perfection—it’s about using creativity as a tool for healing, self-exploration, and reclaiming the parts of yourself that the world may have told you to hide.
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What is chronic conditions affirming therapy?
Chronic illness and chronic conditions affirming therapy is about creating a space where your experiences are validated, your struggles are acknowledged, and your whole self—not just your diagnosis—is seen and supported. Too often, people with chronic conditions are dismissed, invalidated, or told it’s “all in their head.” This therapy is the opposite of that. It’s a place where you don’t have to prove your pain or justify your experience.
I recognize that chronic illness impacts more than just the physical—it affects your mental health, relationships, identity, and daily life in ways others may not understand. Together, we’ll navigate the emotional toll of living with a chronic condition (or a dozen), process medical trauma, unpack internalized ableism, and explore ways to advocate for yourself while honoring your body’s needs. Most importantly, this is a space where you are believed, supported, and empowered to move through life in a way that works for you.
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Medical trauma isn’t just about life-threatening emergencies or major procedures—it can happen in routine check-ups, minor interventions, and any medical experience where your autonomy was ignored or your consent wasn’t fully considered. Maybe a doctor dismissed your pain, performed a procedure without explaining your options, or made decisions about your body without truly involving you. Even seemingly “small” violations can leave lasting emotional and physical scars, especially when they reinforce a pattern of being unheard or disrespected in medical spaces.
Neurodivergent individuals, including autistic and ADHD folks, experience medical trauma at significantly higher rates. Sensory sensitivities, communication barriers, and a history of not being taken seriously can make medical settings feel overwhelming or even dangerous. Research has shown that autistic individuals are more likely to experience PTSD symptoms, often due to distressing medical interactions and a lack of consent-based care. If medical settings feel unsafe to you, that response makes sense—it’s not in your head.
How We Approach Medical Trauma Together
Healing from medical trauma isn’t about forcing yourself to trust the system again—it’s about reclaiming your sense of safety, self-trust, and control over your own body and care. In our work together, we will:
Validate your experience. I believe you. Your pain is real, and what happened to you mattered. No more gaslighting or being told to “just get over it.”
Address nervous system dysregulation. Medical trauma isn’t just emotional—it lives in the body. We’ll use somatic and grounding techniques to help you feel safer in your own skin.
Use art therapy and creative processing. Sometimes words aren’t enough to express the frustration, fear, and grief that medical trauma brings. Through art, we can explore these emotions in a way that feels more intuitive and less overwhelming.
Build self-advocacy skills. Whether it’s preparing for an upcoming appointment, learning how to assert boundaries with doctors, or practicing scripts for self-advocacy, we’ll work on making medical interactions less distressing.
Unlearn medical gaslighting. If you’ve been told you’re “too anxious,” “too sensitive,” or that your pain isn’t real, we’ll work on rebuilding trust in your body’s signals and your own intuition.
You Deserve Safe, Respectful Care
Medical trauma can make you feel powerless, disconnected from your body, or even afraid to seek care when you need it. But your body is not the enemy. You are allowed to take up space in medical settings. You deserve to be heard, to have your boundaries honored, and to receive care that respects your autonomy.
You don’t have to navigate this alone. Together, we’ll work on healing the wounds that medical trauma has left behind, so you can move forward feeling more empowered, more in control, and more at home in your body.
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What is neurodivergent affirming therapy?
Neurodivergent-affirming therapy is about creating a space where you don’t have to mask, shrink yourself, or fit into neurotypical expectations just to be accepted. It’s therapy that recognizes and celebrates the way your brain works, rather than trying to change or “fix” it. I focus on helping you unpack internalized ableism, process past invalidation, and build self-trust so you can move through the world in a way that honors you.
I specialize in working with late-diagnosed autistic and auDHD folks who are navigating the realization that their past experiences, struggles, and coping mechanisms make so much more sense in light of their diagnosis. This can bring relief, but it can also bring grief—grief for past needs that went unmet, for the ways you had to force yourself to fit in, or for relationships that didn’t survive once you started showing up as your full self. Together, we’ll process that grief, unlearn harmful narratives, and explore ways to advocate for yourself while embracing what truly works for you. This is a space where you are fully seen, understood, and supported exactly as you are.
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You don’t have to explain or justify who you are here—you are already seen, believed, and valued exactly as you are. 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming therapy isn’t just about acceptance; it’s about actively supporting you in your identity, your experiences, and your right to exist fully and unapologetically.
Living in a world that isn’t always safe or affirming can be exhausting. Maybe you’ve been dismissed, invalidated, or forced to navigate spaces where you felt unseen or unsafe. Therapy with me is a place where you don’t have to hide parts of yourself, soften your truth, or wonder if you’ll be judged. This is a space where all of you is welcome—your identity, your relationships, your experiences, your emotions, and your story.
Whether you’re:
🏳️⚧️ Exploring gender or sexuality and seeking clarity, affirmation, or support
💔 Processing past harm, rejection, or family dynamics that have impacted your sense of self
🤝 Navigating relationships, chosen family, or boundaries in a way that feels aligned and safe
❤️ Unlearning internalized shame and rebuilding self-trust
🌿 Just wanting a therapist who truly gets it—without tiptoeing, assuming, or needing you to educate themWe’ll work together to reclaim your right to take up space, build a deeper connection with yourself, and create a life that feels authentic and fulfilling for you. You are not too much. You are not “wrong.” You are worthy of love, safety, and joy—exactly as you are.
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As women, we’re often taught to shrink ourselves—to prioritize others, silence our needs, and second-guess our instincts. We’re told to be agreeable, accommodating, and selfless while carrying the weight of unrealistic expectations. Therapy is a space where you can begin to unlearn these messages, reconnect with your voice, and step into your power unapologetically.
Healing Through Self-Trust and Liberation
Empowerment isn’t just about confidence—it’s about breaking free from the expectations and limitations that have been placed on you. It’s about:
✔ Learning to trust yourself instead of seeking external validation
✔ Setting boundaries without guilt or fear
✔ Releasing perfectionism and the pressure to be “good enough”
✔ Speaking up and owning your truth without apology
✔ Healing from internalized oppression and reclaiming your autonomyToo often, women’s struggles are minimized, dismissed, or pathologized. We’re told our pain is “normal,” our ambition is “too much,” and our emotions are “too sensitive.” Therapy is a space where your experiences are seen, validated, and honored—without having to explain why things feel unfair or exhausting. We acknowledge the real impact of patriarchy, misogyny, fatphobia, ableism, and systemic oppression, and we work together to dismantle the narratives that have kept you small.
A Holistic, Trauma-Informed Approach to Women’s Empowerment
Empowerment doesn’t look the same for everyone, which is why our work together is deeply personal and tailored to what feels right for you. Some of the ways we can explore this journey include:
🖌 Art Therapy & Creative Expression – Healing doesn’t always happen through words. Creative practices like drawing, painting, and journaling can help you explore your emotions, process trauma, and reclaim your identity in ways that feel intuitive and freeing.
🧠 Nervous System Regulation & Self-Compassion – Many women live in a constant state of fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. We’ll work on mindfulness, grounding techniques, and somatic healing to help you feel safer in your own body and more in control of your emotions.
🌱 Inner Child Healing & Reparenting – If you were raised to be the “good girl,” to prioritize everyone else’s needs over your own, or to stay small to be accepted, we’ll work on healing those wounds and giving yourself the care, protection, and validation you always deserved.
🛑 Boundaries & Self-Advocacy – Setting boundaries is an act of self-respect and empowerment. We’ll explore how to say no without guilt, express your needs without fear, and build relationships that honor your worth.
🔥 Unpacking Self-Doubt & Perfectionism – The pressure to be perfect, accommodating, and likable can be suffocating. Together, we’ll challenge imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and the fear of not being “good enough.”
💡 Redefining Success & Fulfillment – Women are often told that success means burnout, people-pleasing, or constantly proving themselves. Here, you get to define success, happiness, and fulfillment on your own terms—and build a life that reflects that.You Deserve to Take Up Space
Women’s empowerment isn’t about hustling harder or trying to succeed within broken systems that were never built for us. It’s about giving yourself permission to exist fully—to trust yourself, to take up space, and to live without apology.
Therapy is where we begin that journey together. You don’t have to do this alone. 💛
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If you’re living with Complex PTSD (CPTSD), you might feel like your past is still running the show—whether it’s through overwhelming emotions, self-doubt, relationship struggles, or patterns that feel impossible to break. Healing isn’t about forcing yourself to “move on” or reliving everything all at once. It’s about creating a safe, steady space where you can gently untangle the impact of long-term trauma—without judgment, without pressure, and without having to go through it alone.
Reconnecting with Yourself: Safety, Self-Compassion & Inner Child Healing
CPTSD isn’t just about what happened to you—it’s also about what didn’t happen. The love you didn’t receive, the safety you weren’t given, the validation that never came. Trauma, especially when it happens over time, shapes the way you see yourself, your worth, your relationships, and the world around you. Together, we’ll explore these patterns and begin to rewrite the story in a way that centers self-compassion and empowerment.
A big part of this work is inner child healing—acknowledging the younger versions of yourself that had to adapt, suppress, or hide just to survive. We’ll explore the messages you absorbed growing up, how family dynamics shaped your beliefs about yourself, and where you learned to shrink, people-please, or disconnect from your own needs. This isn’t about blame—it’s about understanding, processing, and making space for the healing that was never given to you before.
A Holistic & Creative Approach to Healing
Since CPTSD affects both the mind and body, I take a holistic, trauma-informed approach that includes:
🖌 Art Therapy & Creative Expression – Sometimes, words aren’t enough. Art therapy allows you to process emotions in a way that feels safer and more intuitive. Through journaling, drawing, painting, or other creative outlets, we can explore feelings that feel too big or too complicated to say out loud.
🧠 Nervous System Regulation – Trauma gets stored in the body. We’ll work on grounding techniques, mindfulness, and somatic approaches to help you feel more present and in control of your emotions instead of being hijacked by them.
❤️ Self-Compassion & Unlearning Survival Mode – Many people with CPTSD carry deep shame, self-criticism, or unworthiness. Therapy is a space to gently challenge those beliefs, rebuild self-trust, and develop self-compassion as you reconnect with your true self.
👨👩👧👦 Exploring Family & Relationship Patterns – Understanding how past experiences shaped your relationships can help you break cycles of self-abandonment, codependency, or hyper-independence so you can create connections that feel safe and fulfilling.
🛑 Boundaries & Reclaiming Your Voice – Many of us were taught that love had to be earned, that we had to be small, agreeable, or perfect to be worthy of care. We’ll work on setting boundaries, speaking up for yourself, and building relationships that honor your needs instead of draining you.Healing is About Moving Forward—Not Just Looking Back
Therapy for CPTSD isn’t about “getting over it.” It’s about learning how to move forward in a way that honors your past while creating a future that feels safe, empowered, and truly yours. You don’t have to go through this alone, and you don’t have to keep carrying this weight by yourself. Healing is possible, and it starts with giving yourself permission to take up space, to feel, and to rewrite your story on your own terms.
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When I work with couples, I take an Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) approach, which means we focus on the deeper emotional patterns shaping your relationship—not just the surface-level conflicts. My goal is to help you both feel seen, heard, and deeply understood in a way that strengthens your connection and builds a secure emotional bond.
In our sessions, we’ll slow things down and explore the cycles you get stuck in—the moments where you miss each other, where it feels like no matter what you say, the other person doesn’t quite get it. These patterns aren’t about one person being “the problem.” Instead, they’re protection strategies you’ve developed over time, often rooted in past experiences or fears of rejection, abandonment, or not being enough. My job is to help you both recognize these cycles and find new ways of reaching for each other with honesty, vulnerability, and trust.
Since many of my clients are navigating complex identities, medical trauma, systemic oppression, or neurodivergence, I also take a deeply affirming, social justice-based approach to relationships. If you’ve felt dismissed, misunderstood, or like traditional couples therapy didn’t quite “get” you, I want you to know that our work together will be different. We’ll honor your unique experiences, communication styles, and relationship structures—there’s no one-size-fits-all approach here.
I also integrate mindfulness, ACT, and DBT tools to help you both increase emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and self-compassion—so that even in the hardest moments, you can show up for each other in a way that feels secure and connected. And if past trauma plays a role in your relationship, I’ll help you navigate it without shame or blame, creating space for healing, repair, and deeper intimacy.
At the core of my approach is the belief that relationships thrive when both people feel safe enough to be authentic, vulnerable, and emotionally engaged. My role is to help you get there—together.
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What is it?
Fat-liberation oriented therapy is about creating a space where you don’t have to justify your body, your experiences, or your worth. It actively rejects diet culture, weight stigma, and the idea that your value is tied to the size of your body. Too often, fat people are dismissed, shamed, or made to feel like their struggles aren’t valid unless they’re trying to shrink themselves. This therapy is the opposite of that—it’s a space where you are seen, respected, and supported exactly as you are.
This approach acknowledges the harm of anti-fat bias, medical fatphobia, and the emotional toll of existing in a world that constantly tries to shrink you. Together, we work on unlearning internalized shame, reconnecting with your body in a way that feels safe, and building self-trust and self-compassion. Whether you’re navigating medical trauma, body image struggles, or just need a therapist who gets it, this is a place where your lived experience is honored, your body is never the problem, and your healing isn’t dependent on changing who you are.
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Burnout doesn’t look the same for everyone, and I approach vocational burnout and autistic burnout differently because their causes—and the ways they manifest—are different. Vocational burnout often comes from chronic workplace stress, high demands, and emotional exhaustion, while autistic burnout happens when the constant effort to navigate a neurotypical world, mask traits, and manage sensory overwhelm becomes too much.
My goal isn’t to apply a one-size-fits-all strategy, but to help you find real, sustainable ways to recover, regulate, and protect your energy moving forward.
How I Support Vocational Burnout
Vocational burnout is more than just being tired—it’s deep emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and a loss of motivation and fulfillment in your work. If you’re feeling drained, unmotivated, or disconnected from yourself because of work, we’ll explore ways to restore balance and redefine your relationship with work.
Mindfulness and Stress Management: I integrate mindfulness-based techniques, grounding exercises, and cognitive strategies to help regulate stress and prevent burnout from taking over.
Workload and Boundary Assessment: We’ll take an honest look at how much is on your plate and identify ways to set boundaries that protect your mental health while still meeting your professional needs.
Processing Workplace Stress and Systemic Barriers: Burnout isn’t just about personal resilience—it’s often about unrealistic expectations, toxic work environments, or oppressive systems that demand too much. Therapy can be a space to validate these experiences and explore ways to navigate them.
Support and Connection: Burnout thrives in isolation. We’ll work on strengthening support systems—whether that’s in the workplace or outside of it—to create a buffer against stress.
How I Support Autistic Burnout
Autistic burnout is different from vocational burnout because it’s not just about stress—it’s about the exhaustion that comes from masking, sensory overload, social expectations, and trying to function in a world that often isn’t built for neurodivergent needs. It’s a full-body, emotional, and cognitive shutdown that can take weeks, months, or even years to recover from. I work with autistic clients to help reduce the strain, unmask in safe ways, and create a life that honors your neurodivergence rather than working against it.
Sensory Regulation and Overload Management: If sensory overwhelm contributes to burnout, we’ll explore ways to adjust your environment, set up sensory-friendly spaces, and create a routine that supports your nervous system.
Reducing Masking and Encouraging Authenticity: If you’ve been masking for years, it makes sense that you feel exhausted. We’ll work on finding spaces where you can unmask safely, practice self-acceptance, and express yourself in a way that feels natural.
Art Therapy and Creative Expression: Many autistic individuals process emotions best through nonverbal or creative outlets. We can use drawing, painting, or movement to explore emotions, release tension, and reconnect with yourself.
Predictability and Energy Management: We’ll look at ways to structure your day to reduce unpredictability, minimize energy-draining activities, and prioritize rest without guilt.
Challenging Internalized Ableism: Many autistic individuals feel guilt or shame when they can’t keep up with neurotypical expectations. I help clients unlearn harmful narratives and build self-compassion around their needs and limits.
Burnout Recovery Is Personal—And You Deserve Support
Burnout isn’t a personal failure—it’s a sign that something isn’t working and needs to change. Whether you’re struggling with vocational burnout, autistic burnout, or both, we’ll work together to create strategies that support your well-being without forcing you into unsustainable coping mechanisms.
Your energy, rest, and needs matter. You don’t have to push through burnout alone—we’ll find a way to restore balance, honor your neurodivergence, and build a life that feels sustainable for you.
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Many of us carry wounds from childhood—messages that told us we were too much, not enough, or only lovable when we met certain expectations. These early experiences shape how we see ourselves, how we show up in relationships, and how we respond to the world. Inner child work is about reconnecting with those younger parts of you that never got what they needed—whether that was love, safety, validation, or the freedom to just be.
In our work together, we don’t just talk about your inner child; we create space to hear them, understand them, and give them what they never received. This isn’t about blaming the past but about healing the ways it still lives in you today.
How We Approach Inner Child Healing
Inner child work isn’t just about thinking back on the past—it’s about feeling, expressing, and reconnecting in a way that creates real healing. I integrate:
Art therapy and creative expression—because some wounds are too deep for words alone. Through drawing, painting, journaling, or movement, we give your inner child a voice beyond logic and language.
Guided visualization and dialogue—helping you connect with your younger self, offering them the compassion, protection, or reassurance they never had.
Somatic and nervous system work—because childhood wounds don’t just exist in our minds; they live in our bodies. We’ll explore how past experiences may be showing up in tension, anxiety, or survival patterns.
Reparenting and self-compassion practices—learning to be the loving, steady presence for yourself that you always deserved.
What Inner Child Work Can Offer You
Through this process, we work on breaking cycles of self-doubt, perfectionism, and self-abandonment—patterns that were often survival strategies in childhood but no longer serve you now. Inner child healing allows you to:
Understand where certain emotional reactions come from and begin responding with self-compassion instead of shame.
Reclaim joy, creativity, and self-expression that may have been lost along the way.
Create emotional safety within yourself so that you no longer have to seek it in unhealthy or unreliable places.
Learn how to meet your own needs in a way that feels nurturing, not punishing.
This is deep, powerful work, and you don’t have to do it alone. Your inner child still exists, waiting to be seen, heard, and held with the care they always needed. Together, we create that space—one where you can heal, reconnect, and step into the life that was always meant for you.
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If you’re struggling with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), you know it’s more than just mood swings or painful cycles—it can feel like your entire world shifts every month. One moment, you feel like yourself, and the next, it’s like everything is unraveling. The emotional whiplash, the exhaustion, the self-doubt, and the grief of constantly rebuilding yourself can be overwhelming. You’re not alone, and you don’t have to figure this out on your own.
My approach to PMDD therapy is holistic, empowered, and deeply attuned to the mind-body connection. I look at the whole picture—your emotions, nervous system, relationships, and the larger systems that impact your well-being. PMDD is often misunderstood, especially for those who are neurodivergent or living with co-occurring conditions like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) or Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). I deeply understand these connections and can help you navigate self-care, medical advocacy, and balancing your unique needs with compassion and clarity.
Reclaiming Your Experience
Too often, women and AFAB individuals with PMDD are misdiagnosed with mood disorders like bipolar disorder or major depression, even when their symptoms follow a clear hormonal cycle. The medical system has a long history of dismissing women’s pain and gaslighting people into believing their suffering is “just anxiety” or “all in their head”. If you’ve ever felt invalidated, unheard, or forced to fight for proper care, therapy is a space to unpack that frustration, process the emotional toll of medical dismissal, and reclaim trust in yourself and your experiences.
Building Support for Every Part of Your Cycle
In our work together, we focus on understanding your unique patterns, tracking symptoms, and developing tools that support you throughout your entire cycle—not just when things feel unbearable. I help you explore:
✔ Nervous system regulation to reduce emotional overwhelm and sensory sensitivity
✔ Self-compassion practices to shift away from self-blame and shame
✔ Practical strategies to navigate shifts in mood, energy, and emotional intensity
✔ Processing medical trauma and the emotional impact of living with a misunderstood condition
✔ Strengthening relationships by learning how to communicate needs and set boundariesA Holistic & Empowered Approach to Healing
Healing with PMDD isn’t just about coping—it’s about learning to work with your body instead of fighting against it. I integrate a range of approaches, including:
🌿 Mindfulness and grounding techniques to manage distress in the moment
🖌 Art therapy and creative expression for emotional release when words feel impossible
🛑 Boundary-setting and self-advocacy to help you protect your energy and well-being
💡 Exploring treatment options in a way that feels empowering, whether that includes medication, lifestyle changes, or alternative healing approaches
🤝 Attachment-focused support to navigate the relational challenges that can arise from PMDDPMDD can feel isolating and relentless, but you don’t have to carry it alone. Therapy is a space where you can be fully seen, validated, and supported in creating a life that works for you—not just around your symptoms.
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Creativity isn’t just about producing something—it’s about expression, exploration, and connection. When a creative block shows up, it can feel frustrating, disorienting, and even personal, as if you’ve somehow lost touch with an essential part of yourself. Whether you’re a writer, artist, musician, or creative thinker in any field, I understand how stuckness can feel like a heavy weight, one that’s often tied to perfectionism, self-doubt, or deeper emotional barriers.
How I Help Clients Work Through Creative Blocks
A creative block is rarely just about “lack of inspiration.” Often, it’s a mix of fear, burnout, emotional overwhelm, or internalized expectations that make creative expression feel out of reach. Together, we’ll explore what’s holding you back and develop ways to move through resistance with curiosity instead of frustration.
Exploring the Emotional Roots of the Block: Creative blocks often come from perfectionism, fear of failure, past criticism, or unresolved emotions. Through therapy, we can gently uncover and address these emotional barriers so they no longer control your creative process.
Using Art Therapy to Break Through Stagnation: If creativity feels forced, I incorporate art therapy techniques like free drawing, collage, movement, or guided prompts to help you bypass overthinking and reconnect with your intuitive self.
Unlearning Perfectionism and Self-Doubt: Many creative blocks come from internalized expectations about what your work “should” be. We’ll work on challenging harsh self-criticism, loosening rigid standards, and making space for imperfection.
Addressing Burnout and Restoring Playfulness: Creativity isn’t just about output—it’s about play, exploration, and curiosity. If burnout is draining your creativity, we’ll work on restoring joy in the process rather than focusing on the end result.
Mindfulness and Somatic Approaches to Creativity: Sometimes, creative blocks live in the body. If anxiety or tension is shutting down your creative flow, we’ll explore breathwork, grounding techniques, or movement-based exercises to help you feel more connected and open to inspiration.
Developing a Sustainable Creative Routine: If motivation feels inconsistent, we can explore ways to build a creative practice that feels natural rather than forced, allowing you to engage with your work in a way that supports rather than depletes you.
Creativity Is a Relationship, Not a Demand
Creative blocks don’t mean you’re not talented, inspired, or capable—they mean something inside you needs attention, care, and space. Therapy can help you work through resistance, rediscover creative flow, and reconnect with the joy of making, expressing, and creating.
You don’t have to push through the block alone. Let’s explore what’s getting in the way and find a way back to creativity that feels freeing, not forced.
My approach and what a session with me looks like:
My approach to therapy is centered on seeing you as a whole person and understanding the systems that shape your experiences. I believe in fostering a space where collaboration, consent, and personal autonomy guide our work together. While I often incorporate art therapy, attachment based therapy, and holistic methods, every session is tailored to what feels most effective and comfortable for you.
You don’t need any background in art to benefit from art therapy—it’s about the process not the product or artistic skill. My role is to support and walk alongside you as you navigate your path toward healing and growth.
Outside of therapy, I spend my time with my spouse and pets, tending to my plants, crocheting, knitting, and reading. I’m especially passionate about working with communities that have been historically excluded, ensuring that everyone I work with feels seen, valued, and supported. Wherever you are in your journey, I’m here to help.
This is not traditional “old school” therapy. Therapy with me is about the power of the therapeutic relationship. Here, we show up as ourselves. If you are looking for a therapist you can have a genuine therapeutic relationship with who responds with emotion and not as an emotionless blank slate this is the place for you. Here, I fidget, stim, craft, and swear along side you. I show up as myself so you can show up as your self! Tattoos, piercings, and casual attire are welcomed and appreciated here. I walk alongside you on your journey, give encouragement, challenge you when needed, celebrate your wins and support you when things don’t go the way you planned. I provide oodles of resources and will guide you in exploration of how various systems are impacting you. I believe you are the expert on your life and lived experience and I am here to help you see the knowledge you already hold! Therapy with me is collaborative and views you as a whole person. Here, you can show up as yourself and find support where you need it most.
Limited openings available
Fees:
$175 per session
Session fee is due at the time of your session
Sessions are 45-50 minutes
All sessions are full fee
I offer a limited amount of sliding scale openings for those who can not afford the full fee and do not have out of network benefits.
We have partnered with Mentaya to help clients use their out-of-network benefits to save money on therapy. Use this tool below to see if you qualify for reimbursement for my services.
Working with me
Use the calendar below to schedule a free 15 minute consultation call with me or contact me to schedule a consultation call using the contact form!
Book a consultation with me:
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My legal name is Lauren St John, but I go by my chosen name: Rowan Crawfish.
You can find my licensure information here under my legal name:
https://verify.sos.ga.gov/verification/Search.aspx
https://my.atcb.org/index.aspx
https://nbcc.org/search/counselorverify