Laura Contreras

Compassionate therapist blending cognitive and relational care

LMFT Wisconsin

Experience: 5 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Parenting
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English

About Laura

Laura Contreras is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who works from a practical, evidence-informed perspective that centers cognitive and relational approaches. She integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with acceptance-based and attachment-focused ideas to help people identify unhelpful patterns, clarify values, and build more workable habits.

Background and approach

Her work emphasizes collaboration and concrete strategies for coping with anxiety, stress, depression, grief, and major life changes. Clients seeking support for relationship challenges, parenting concerns, intimacy issues, or career-related stress will find an approach that blends problem-solving with attention to relational dynamics and personal meaning.

Laura also addresses trauma and abuse, self-esteem and body image concerns, panic and social anxiety, and complicated family histories such as divorce, family of origin issues, and forgiveness. Her practice balances short-term coaching tools with deeper exploration when needed.

Based in Wisconsin and holding the LMFT credential, she offers services through formats that accommodate varied schedules and preferences. With five years of professional experience, Laura aims to create a respectful, strengths-based environment that helps people make measurable changes and move toward clearer goals.

How relational and cognitive approaches translate to online therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce symptoms and improve day-to-day functioning; it is often used for anxiety, depression, panic, and social phobia and involves practical exercises and skill building. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify personal values and learn to accept difficult internal experiences while committing to value-driven action, which can be useful for stress, life transitions, and persistent worry. Attachment-Based Therapy explores how early relational patterns shape current connections and communication, offering a way to address intimacy issues, trust problems, and family dynamics in sessions that pay attention to emotional bonds.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey, and the therapist will work collaboratively to determine which methods fit a client's goals, preferences, and circumstances. This means trying interventions, reviewing what helps, and adapting the plan together rather than assuming a single technique will be best from the start.

Online therapy through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging makes it easier to fit consistent care into busy lives and to access therapy from home or other convenient locations. These formats support continuity of work on skills, relationship patterns, and coping strategies while offering flexibility for scheduling and communication style with licensed professionals.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she commonly address?

She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting challenges, career concerns, and trauma and abuse among other areas listed in her specialties.

What therapeutic style can be expected during sessions?

Sessions draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy along with acceptance-based and attachment-informed techniques, delivered in a collaborative, client-centered manner.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has five years of professional experience as a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist working with a range of life transition and relationship concerns.

What are her credentials and where is she based?

She holds the LMFT credential and practices in Wisconsin; her license is WI LMFT 971-124.

Which languages does she offer therapy in and can she take international clients?

Therapy is offered in English, and she is not currently accepting international clients.

What session formats are available for meeting with her?

She provides video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different needs and schedules.

How are costs handled for sessions?

Fees vary with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the steps to begin working with her?

To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule an appointment according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesParenting issuesSelf esteem Coping with life changes

Also works with

Family conflictsTrauma and abuse GriefIntimacy-related issuesCareer difficultiesDepressionCoaching

Additional focus areas

Aging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesBody imageCommunication problemsControl issuesDivorce and separationFamily of origin issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposePanic disorder and panic attacksSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Gottman MethodMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused Therapy

Experience

5+ years

Licensed

Wisconsin

Languages

English