Proud to Help Those Who Serve and Protect — East Valley Trauma Counseling
'MANDATED REPORTER'
'MANDATED REPORTER' does NOT mean I tell your department if you are having suicidal thoughts, are drinking or using substances, or having thoughts of hurting others. A 'mandated reporter' is someone who has to report abuse of a minor or vulnerable adult. Your information is never shared with your department or agency.
Learn more on the First Responders page →What I Do
First Responders
Lauren has personal experience working alongside law enforcement and firefighters with both Phoenix and Chandler Crisis Response teams. When selecting a counselor, look for someone who has been trained specifically in the treatment of trauma in First Responders. I am committed to your safety, privacy, and comfort as well as excellence in my service to you.
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Videos and Podcasts
Explore videos, podcasts, and conversations focused on first responder wellness and the science behind the job. These resources examine how repeated exposure to stress, trauma, shift work, and high-stakes environments can create real changes in the brain, nervous system, and body over the course of a career.
Topics include the stress response, nervous system regulation, relationships and family life, sleep, emotional health, trauma, resilience, and practical strategies for helping first responders stay healthy—on the job, at home, and long after the shift ends.
"Therapy Is Not Just About 'Talking'"
Therapy is best approached like taking a class where the subject is you. There is an introduction, some hard work, and graduation in the next level. The goal is to learn more about yourself and to grow. I strive to make sure my clients always feel safe and in control of their process. Many of my patients have shared how terrified they were before starting counseling; how many of them have held on to memories or feelings of shame and guilt for many years and were afraid to talk about it. Counseling is less about talking or telling others the details of your story, and more about healing the body, mind, and you! This can often be done with few words, as trauma and anxiety work is largely about feeling safe in the body and calming the nervous system. In trauma work, the past is processed until it no longer feels present in the mind and body.
I offer online scheduling through a secure, HIPAA compliant patient portal, so you can find a time and day that works best for you without ever having to wait for a call back. You can use a secure chat via this portal to message at any time in between sessions for non-emergency issues if needed, and I always try to respond within the same day. For privacy in my office while you wait for your appointment, relax in a massage chair behind a privacy screen (see photos) that is reserved exclusively for my first responder clients. Covered parking is available in spots 67 and 87 in the back of the buildings if you prefer shaded parking. When selecting a counselor, be sure to ask about ongoing education, training beyond simply 'Level 1 and Level 2 EMDR,' and years in practice. Lauren has extensive training in trauma work, neuroscience, and first responders.
— Lauren Goldbach, LCSW, CCTP Owner