Lara Peter, LCPC

Lara Peter is a licensed counselor (LCPC) based in Maryland with ten years working directly as a therapist. She emphasizes finding the right fit and creating a space where people can talk without feeling judged. Lara says the pace of therapy is guided by each person's comfort and readiness.

She draws on a person-centered stance that focuses on listening and reflecting back what clients share. Lara pairs that with solution-focused work aimed at practical steps and goals. She also uses cognitive behavioral ideas and motivational techniques when they fit a person's needs.

In sessions she listens closely, reflects what she hears, and offers feedback and tools people can use between meetings. Her approach is collaborative and adaptive rather than one-size-fits-all. Sessions often include concrete strategies for managing stress, anxiety, mood shifts, eating concerns, and sleep problems.

Lara has worked in outpatient, residential, in-home, school, and university settings. Over her career she has supported people facing grief, relationship strain, addiction concerns, career stresses, and compassion fatigue. She helps individuals address attachment and abandonment worries, body-image and eating-related issues, and challenges linked to ADHD and neurodiversity.

Her work aims to build awareness of patterns, teach practical coping skills, and set achievable goals. People who want a collaborative therapist who listens, reflects, and offers clear tools may find her approach helpful.

How these approaches guide online work

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening, reflecting, and helping people feel heard. It aims to build trust and self-understanding, which can be helpful for concerns like grief, self-esteem, and attachment issues.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going and teaches practical skills to change them. It is often used for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and patterns linked to eating and substance concerns.

Motivational Interviewing helps people find their own reasons to change and boost commitment to goals. It pairs well with work on addictions, behavior change, and building motivation for new coping strategies.

Choosing the right approach is a shared process. The therapist will talk with the person about their goals, try methods that fit those goals, and adjust as needed. This collaborative process helps match tools and strategies to what feels useful and realistic for daily life.

If you plan to meet online, confirm which session formats are currently offered before you book. Many people find online work helps fit therapy into a busy schedule, reduces travel time, and makes it easier to use brief check-ins or focused skill practice between other responsibilities.