- Stress and anxiety
- Relationship patterns
- CBT and ACT
About Lara
Lara Shemali is a Washington LMHC with 29 years of clinical experience helping adults with stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, and depression. She works with people who are trying to reduce daily stress and rebuild steadiness in their lives.
She offers straightforward tools for managing worry and anxiety. Sessions often include practical coping skills and thought work drawn from cognitive behavioral approaches. She also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ideas to help people clarify what matters to them and take manageable steps toward those values.
Lara brings experience addressing relationship patterns and attachment concerns that often come from the family people grew up in. She supports people noticing how early roles and expectations still shape communication, closeness, and trust now. This can include work on abandonment or commitment worries and on difficulties like communication problems or blended family stress.
She has long experience with substance issues and recovery, and with the emotional effects of chronic illness and body image worries. People also come for help with dissociation, mood challenges, and handling the fallout from separation or domestic violence.
In sessions she focuses on clear conversation and active strategies. She balances client-centered listening with concrete interventions from CBT and emotionally-focused work. Practical scheduling options are discussed with each person so therapy fits around work and life demands.
How her approaches translate to online sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and reconnect with what matters to them. It focuses on small actions that align with values and can help with anxiety, avoidance, and low motivation. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy examines patterns of thinking and behavior and offers concrete tools for reducing worry and shifting responses. It is often used for stress, anxiety, and mood concerns. Emotionally-Focused Therapy centers on emotions and interaction patterns in relationships, supporting clearer communication and stronger emotional connection.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about their needs, goals, and preferences and then try methods that seem a good fit. That collaborative process helps decide whether to lean more on ACT, CBT, or emotionally-focused interventions over time.
The biography does not list specific online session formats, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy around work, childcare, or long commutes. They can also allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight and let people choose quieter times of day or evenings to attend sessions without travel.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
29+ years
Listed in
Washington
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help address
She helps adults with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, and depression. Additional focus areas include attachment issues, abandonment, substance concerns, and blended family stress.
What is her therapeutic style
She combines client-centered listening with practical techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy and elements of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Emotionally-Focused Therapy. Sessions aim for clear conversation and actionable steps.
How much experience does she have
She has 29 years of professional work experience supporting adults with a range of emotional and relationship concerns.
What credentials and location are listed
She is a Washington LMHC and practices from Washington state.
Which languages are supported
Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.
What session formats are available
Session formats are not specified in the biography; please confirm current session options before booking.
How is cost handled
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her
Begin by selecting the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Looking for someone else? Find them by surname.