Lara L South, PhD
Who Am I?
Hi! I’m Dr. Lara and I cannot wait to get to know you. If you are here, though, I am guessing you want to know a little about me first. On this page you will find my qualifications, my experience, and my approach to therapy. That will be the professional side of me, but first, who I am at my core is authentic, creative, and a bit of a nerd. I am committed to connecting with my clients while still being true to myself. In addition to the challenges you face, we might even be able to talk about adorable cat pictures or playing Dungeons & Dragons because those things are therapeutic, too! Whoever you are, I accept you and look forward to building a therapeutic relationship together.
What are my qualifications?
Now for the business end of things. I am a clinical psychologist who is licensed in California (PSY31523) and New York (022307). I graduated from Loma Linda University in California, did my predoctoral internship at the Allendale Association & Bradley Counseling Center in Illinois, and completed my postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Rochester in New York. All of my training was accredited by the American Psychological Association.
What is my experience?
Although I became licensed as a psychologist in 2017, I have had supervised experience in behavioral and mental health jobs and training dating back to 2004. I have seen children as young as 3 all the way up to older adults well into their 90s. My clients have been from diverse backgrounds with respect to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, relationship orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability status, relationship status, national origin, and other characteristics. I have used multiple therapy modalities, including individual, family, parent training, play therapy, consultation, and telepsychology. I have also provided services in various settings, such as a departmental clinic, hospitals, schools, community mental health centers, skilled nursing facilities, and private practice. Furthermore, I have experience with various types of testing, both screening and diagnostic.
What is my approach?
My approach to therapy is an integrative approach. I do not believe in a “one size fits all” model and feel that therapy should be tailored to the needs of each client. I enjoy using creative therapies to enhance the voices of my clients even when it is difficult to find what to say. My goal is to use the most appropriate combination of evidence-based techniques that are the best match for the person/family to address the presenting concerns and allow their strengths to emerge and develop.
All are welcome
- Commitment to serve people of color
- LGBTQIA+ friendly
- Gender-affirming care
- Poly friendly
- Kink friendly
- Trauma-informed care
Want to collaborate?
Click the button above to to view my contact information. Feel free to ask any questions, share your comments, or take the first steps to building a therapeutic relationship.