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LK Portrait of Lara Kelso

Lara Kelso

Strength-based counseling with practical tools

LPC Missouri

Experience
7 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Attachment-Based Therapy
Languages
English

About Lara

Lara Kelso is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with seven years of clinical experience helping people navigate stress, anxiety, relationship conflicts, parenting challenges, and grief.

Background and approach

She holds licensure records listed as MO LPC 2017041276 and OR LPC C8745 and draws on a range of therapeutic frameworks to tailor work to each client's concerns. Lara emphasizes clients' strengths and life stories as central resources in the healing process.

Her approach blends evidence-informed techniques such as cognitive behavioral strategies with attachment-based and client-centered perspectives, allowing space for practical skill building alongside deeper exploration of relationships and identity. Lara aims to meet people where they are, validating the courage it takes to begin therapy while collaborating on realistic goals and coping tools.

She works with common and complex issues including trauma and abuse, intimacy-related problems, self-esteem, career transitions, compassion fatigue, and a wide set of family and relational dynamics.

Therapeutic approaches and online care



Lara integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Attachment-Based Therapy in ways that aim to be practical and relational. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thought and behavior patterns and building skills to manage symptoms like anxiety, depression, or stress through structured exercises and goal-oriented work. Attachment-Based Therapy explores how early and current relationship patterns shape feelings and interactions, helping clients improve closeness, trust, and emotional regulation in relationships.

Choosing the right approach is part of the collaborative process. Lara works with clients to clarify goals, preferences, and needs, and she tailors methods accordingly so therapy feels relevant and workable for each person. This means approaches can be combined or shifted over time as goals evolve.

Online therapy formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which support flexibility for different schedules and communication preferences. These options make it possible to practice skills between sessions, check in as needed, and maintain continuity of care when in-person visits are impractical, while allowing licensed professionals to offer consistent therapeutic attention across appointments.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Lara address?
Lara works with stress, anxiety, relationship and family conflicts, parenting challenges, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, self-esteem, career concerns, depression, compassion fatigue, and many related areas listed in her specialties.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
She combines cognitive behavioral techniques with attachment-informed and client-centered perspectives, focusing on strengths, practical skills, and the client's personal story to guide therapy.
What is her professional background?
She has seven years of professional experience as a Licensed Professional Counselor and has worked across a variety of clinical concerns and relational issues.
Where is she licensed and based?
Her licensure details include MO LPC 2017041276 and OR LPC C8745, and she practices with those qualifications while listed as located in Missouri.
Does she offer services in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English, and she is not currently accepting international clients.
Which session formats are available?
Clients can meet via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules and preferences.
How are sessions priced and paid for?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What steps are needed to begin working together?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a session according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsParenting issuesCoping with life changes

Also works with

Trauma and abuseGriefIntimacy-related issuesSelf esteemCareer difficultiesDepressionCompassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesBlended family issuesBody imageCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDivorce and separationEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFertility issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesPostpartum depressionPregnancy and childbirthSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Narrative TherapySolution-Focused Therapy

Experience

7+ years

Licensed

Missouri, Arizona, Oregon

Languages

English