Lara Shemali, LMHC

Lara Shemali is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) practicing in Washington with 29 years of experience. She helps people reduce stress, manage anxiety, and address depression. She also supports clients working through relationship concerns, trauma and abuse, and recovery from substance use. Her approach is direct and practical. Sessions focus on learning tools to cope with stress and anxiety, improving communication, and building self-esteem. She uses proven methods like cognitive behavioral techniques and acceptance-based work alongside client-centered listening to help people find what fits for them. Lara has worked with a wide range of concerns, including attachment and abandonment issues, commitment and communication problems, body image, chronic illness and pain, and dissociation. She also addresses topics such as blended family challenges, separation and divorce, domestic violence, and some personality-related struggles. She aims to create an open, nonjudgmental space where people can talk through difficult thoughts and feelings. Lara understands busy schedules and offers weekday hours with some evenings and weekends when available. She encourages a collaborative plan that fits each person’s life and responsibilities. Getting started involves a few simple steps to match with a therapist and schedule sessions. Lara welcomes people who are ready to take the first step toward clearer goals and steadier emotional footing.

How Lara’s approaches translate to online therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people clarify their values and take small, meaningful steps toward them while learning to accept difficult thoughts. It suits issues like anxiety, depression, and low motivation. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify unhelpful thinking and testing new behaviors to reduce distress and improve mood; it is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) centers on understanding and changing emotional responses, which can help with relationship concerns and attachment difficulties.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their goals, preferences, and day-to-day demands. That process may shift over time as needs change.

The original biography does not list specific online session formats, so confirm current options before booking. Many people find online sessions helpful because they can fit therapy into busy schedules, shorten commute time, and allow for more flexible appointment times like evenings or weekends when available. Online work also makes it easier to follow through on short skill practice between sessions and to check in quickly when life gets hectic.