Laura A Thor, LCSW, LLC

Specialties

Pastoral Counseling and Spiritually-​Oriented Psychotherapy honoring religious Catholic, Jewish and Protestant mental health clients’ spiritual values for coping with change, decision-​making, healing depression and anxiety, guilt and shame, and seeking renewal of self-​esteem and spiritual wholeness. My practice attracts those who seek to trust their God more and worry about controlling everything less! My focus is helping you reclaim mature faith and mental well being as you make major life decisions, overcome trauma, and practice the art of forgiveness. I see clergy and lay people, offer a sophisticated theological background, and am LGBTQ affirming. «Holiness is salty and earthy, and yours is welcome here.» I have over 25 years as a LCSW in clinical, hospital and private practice, and my Doctor of Ministry is in Pastoral and Spiritual Psychotherapy.

History

Established in 1990.

When religious people feel depressed and anxious or need guidance in making major life decisions, a pastoral therapist provides clinical skills to treat mental health problems and spiritual support to ‘listen’ for God’s guidance and love in times of despair or self-​doubt.

Many people feel alienated from God or their religious faith after a betrayal or disillusionment, but still yearn for transcendence, meaning, holiness and renewal. Faith matures as we grow, in ‘stages’ which I call ‘stations’ that our spiritual journey makes stops at along the way. We visit for a time at ‘Literal and Un-​tested Station’, or ‘Law-​and-​Order Station’, and even ‘Loss of Faith Station’.

Disenchantment with one’s faith is a natural stage of spiritual development! It is usually in suffering or after a time of lost faith that we are called to re-​examine our faith on adult terms. This re-​enchanted faith is simple, trusting and joyful. It is faith that heals.

Meet the Business Owner

Dr. Laura T.

Business Owner

I was the kid whose parents argued at the supper table about whether the ‘apple’ was an apple – or a metaphor for sex! (Which they didn’t actually say, since we were little kids, but I figured it out later.) I studied Theology in college, and as a therapist and lay theologian and writer, I believe mental health and spiritual well-​being go together. I write for Christian and Jewish lay and clergy audiences about the need for theology to always keep updating its view of the human person. I believe psychology tells us what we can master in ourselves and in life, and spirituality tells us what we must surrender to, in trust.