Laura Langes, Psy.D.

Laura Langes, Psy.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist with a specialization in child, adolescent, and family psychology. She is skilled at providing individual and family therapy to both youth and adults from diverse backgrounds. Dr. Langes is experienced in treating a wide range of emotional and behavioral difficulties including ADHD, depression, anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, PTSD, anger and aggression, oppositional/defiant behavior and conduct problems, suicidal thoughts/attempts, self-injury, attachment problems, grief and loss, and problems adjusting to life changes (e.g., parental divorce, a move, transitioning into middle/high school or college). She is particularly passionate about treating youth and adults who have experienced childhood trauma including physical and sexual abuse, neglect, and exposure to domestic or community violence. Additionally, Dr. Langes provides therapy to helping professionals experiencing symptoms of compassion fatigue or vicarious traumatization.

Clients who see Dr. Langes for individual therapy learn to identify and express their emotions effectively, develop healthy ways of coping with difficult emotions, improve the quality of their relationships, and increase their self-esteem and sense of self-worth. With her child and adolescent clients, Dr. Langes utilizes play and expressive therapies to encourage healthy emotional expression and to improve problem-solving skills. In family therapy, she focuses on improving family communication, strengthening child-caregiver bonds, and empowering parents/caregivers to create a safe, structured, and supportive home environment. Dr. Langes also is trained in providing Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy, an evidence-based therapy used to treat trauma exposure and PTSD (for more information, please see our EMDR section of the website). Overall, Dr. Langes’ clients learn to create meaning from their difficult life experiences and open up to new ways of thinking, feeling, and being.

Dr. Langes approaches all of her clients with warmth, empathy, and honesty. Years of psychotherapy research indicates that a trusting therapeutic relationship is the most important predictor of treatment success. As such, Dr. Langes’ primary focus in treatment is to ensure her clients feel safe, supported, understood, and accepted. She makes sure to explore how her clients’ views of themselves, others, and the world are influenced by cultural factors such as race/ethnicity, nationality, age, gender, income status, religion/spirituality, sexual orientation, etc. When appropriate, Dr. Langes also collaborates with other professionals (e.g., psychiatrists, school personnel, case managers) to get a better sense of client functioning in all settings and to advocate for clients’ needs and rights.

Dr. Langes received her undergraduate degree from Pennsylvania State University and her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology (Child & Adolescent Track). She has worked in a variety of treatment settings including community mental health centers, a specialized foster care agency, public and therapeutic day schools, and a psychiatric inpatient hospital. She has completed her EMDR certification with the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA).

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Langes provides trauma training to schools.

Please also check out her Pinterest board with play and craft activities, parenting resources, as well as Child and Adolescent and trauma therapy resources.