Laura Shaw

Laura Shaw is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 24 years of experience practicing in California. She helps people cope with stress, anxiety, grief, parenting concerns, and shifts in self-esteem. Her approach centers on building a respectful space where people can speak openly about what matters to them. She emphasizes practical steps and steady support as clients take the first steps toward change.

Shaw creates a nonjudgmental atmosphere so people can sort through confusing feelings and hard decisions. She listens for what matters most and helps clients identify small, realistic changes they can try between sessions. Conversations typically focus on increasing confidence, improving communication, and finding ways to manage daily stressors.

She uses Client-Centered Therapy to follow each person’s pace and priorities, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to notice patterns of thinking and behavior that get in the way. These methods are used to address grief, caregiver stress, attachment concerns, and relationship communication problems. Shaw also supports people dealing with divorce, guilt, shame, and questions about life purpose and self-love.

People who come for help can expect straightforward feedback and clear goals. Sessions aim to be practical and focused on what the person wants to change. Her style is warm, steady, and goal-oriented, with attention to emotional experience and real-world coping skills.

Before booking, confirm current session formats and logistics. Laura Shaw works in English and is not accepting international clients at this time.

How these approaches translate to online care

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on following the person’s lead and valuing their perspective. In practice this means the therapist listens closely, reflects what she hears, and helps people set goals that feel meaningful. This approach is helpful for people needing support through grief, life changes, or questions about self-worth.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts and actions affect feelings. It uses clear, concrete exercises to notice unhelpful patterns and try different behaviors. CBT is often used for anxiety, stress management, and building confidence through small, testable changes.

Choosing the best approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each person to match goals, needs, and preferences to a way of working. That may mean combining listening-focused work with CBT-style exercises over time.

Confirm current session formats before booking, since specific options are not listed here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It can also make it simpler to keep continuity of care during life transitions while the therapist and client decide what works best for them.