Laura Contreras, LMFT

Compassionate, practical therapy for life transitions

About Laura

Laura Contreras is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in Wisconsin. She offers warm, practical support for people facing stress, anxiety, relationship struggles, parenting challenges, grief, and life transitions.

Background and approach

Sessions aim to be straightforward and focused on real change. She draws on approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and attachment-informed work to help clients notice patterns and try new ways of responding.

Sessions are conversational and goal-oriented, with tools to manage panic, reduce avoidance, and rebuild confidence. Her background includes five years of clinical practice as an LMFT.

That experience shapes how she blends mindfulness, values work, and skills practice so change feels doable rather than abstract. She also brings experience addressing trauma, abuse, and intimacy-related issues.

People come for help with career stress, low self-esteem, body image concerns, and the fallout from separation or infidelity. She also supports those facing aging and geriatric issues, family of origin concerns, and isolation or loneliness.

In sessions she uses straightforward techniques - checking what's working, teaching coping skills, and helping people practice different ways of communicating. The goal is clearer choices, fewer reactive moments, and stronger connections to what matters.

To begin, she offers a mix of video, phone, chat, and text-based options so people can fit therapy into busy lives. Language of work is English and she practices in Wisconsin.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters to them and build small habits that reflect those values. Online ACT sessions often mix short exercises, values clarification, and practical homework to reduce avoidance and increase meaningful action. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing them with real-life experiments. In remote sessions CBT can include thought records, behavioral activation tasks, and brief skills practice during video or messaging check-ins. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how past relationships shape current patterns. Over video or phone calls this approach uses reflective conversations to notice relational triggers and practice new ways of connecting. Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, try methods that fit the person, and adjust plans based on what helps. This collaborative process ensures therapy stays practical and relevant. Online formats give flexibility for different needs. Video calls work well for deep conversations and role-play exercises. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or when someone prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and text-based messaging are useful for short check-ins, homework feedback, and keeping momentum between sessions.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does this therapist address?

She helps people cope with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting questions, career strain, and life changes.

What is her general therapy style and approach?

Her style is conversational and practical, blending Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, attachment-informed ideas, and client-centered listening.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has five years of experience working as an LMFT in Wisconsin and has helped people with trauma, family concerns, and major life transitions.

Where is she licensed and practicing?

She holds an LMFT credential and practices in Wisconsin.

Which languages are sessions offered in?

Sessions are offered in English.

Are international clients supported?

International clients are not currently accepted.

What session formats are available?

Sessions can be conducted via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.

How does billing and cost work?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Stress, Anxiety
Relationship issues
Parenting issues

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 5 years
Licensed: Wisconsin
Languages: English