As the founder and CEO of HWS Best Health Counseling, Lauri leads with purpose, heart, and over 25 years of experience in the mental health field. Her work spans both for-profit and nonprofit sectors, with past roles ranging from front-line counselor to leadership positions including Supervisor, Director, Vice President of Operations, and Chief Operating Officer. These diverse experiences laid the foundation for launching HWS Best Health in 2019.

Lauri began her career providing home and community-based counseling and has since worked in various settings such as hospitals, private practice, and community mental health agencies. She brings a versatile and strengths-focused approach to her work, offering therapy for individuals (ages 6+), families, couples, and groups. Lauri believes that clients are the experts in their own lives, and she sees the therapeutic relationship as a collaborative space to explore goals, growth, and healing.

Lauri employs various therapeutic modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Psycho-Educational Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Reality Therapy. She specializes in treating depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, and life transitions, and has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, and adults. Lauri also offers support in complex areas such as ADHD, Autism, PTSD (including military and first responders), relationship challenges, personality disorders, and abuse recovery. Her work is rooted in compassion, accountability, and helping clients gain clarity around what they can and cannot control in their lives.

Lauri holds a Master’s degree in Social Service Administration and is a Licensed Independent Social Worker with Supervisory Designation (LISW-S). She is a proud member of the National Association of Social Workers and Phi Alpha Honor Society.

As a leader, Lauri is passionate about creating a work environment where every team member feels seen, supported, and empowered. She leads with empathy, transparency, and a healthy dose of humor, believing that joy and connection are just as important in the workplace as they are in therapy.

Outside of work, Lauri enjoys spending time with her blended family of six children and two grandchildren. She and her husband love walking their dog, Picasso, and soaking up the coastal beauty of North Carolina. Together, they also established Lillie’s Gift, a scholarship fund created in honor of Lauri’s late sister.

Lauri’s leadership philosophy is simple but powerful: “Be transparent. Admit mistakes. Lead with heart. That’s how trust is built, and how people thrive.”