Relational therapy rooted in curiosity, play, and connection
ABOUT THE PRACTICE
We created Asheville Inner Child Counseling & Consulting to feel different from high-volume or impersonal models of care. We wanted a space where children could move, play, hesitate, warm up slowly, and be fully themselves — and where teens and adults could feel met with honesty, curiosity, and genuine relationship rather than pressure to perform or “do therapy correctly.” Over time, the practice has naturally become the kind of place where people settle in a bit: parents reconnecting with their child through a game of basketball or disc golf, or adults taking a few extra moments to regroup before returning to the rest of their day.
We know therapy can feel vulnerable, awkward, hopeful, intimidating — sometimes all at once. Whether we’re sitting on the floor building with a child, helping a teen cautiously test trust, or supporting an adult who feels emotionally stuck despite years of insight, we approach the work with warmth, curiosity, and deep respect for the pace at which meaningful change tends to happen.
We intentionally keep our practice small because relationships matter deeply to us. Therapy works differently when people feel known — not managed — and we believe care feels more personal when you can communicate directly with the people actually providing it. For children, that often means building an individual therapeutic relationship with the child while staying closely connected with parents through ongoing collaboration and support. With teens, parent involvement tends to become more collaborative and flexible, guided by developmental needs, trust, and the teen’s comfort level. With adults, we value creating a space where people can show up honestly — whether they are navigating anxiety, burnout, relationship patterns, trauma, grief, or simply feeling stuck in ways insight alone has not shifted.
Over time, therapy becomes part of the fabric of people’s lives: the quick text after a hard school day, the update that something finally clicked, the excitement over a milestone, or reaching out during a difficult transition. We genuinely delight in those moments and consider them meaningful parts of the work itself.
Who We Serve
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Children & Adolescents
navigating emotional regulation challenges, anxiety, behavioral concerns, trauma, attachment difficulties, and major life transitions
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Adults
navigating anxiety, trauma, emotional regulation challenges, relational stress, and major life transitions.
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Parents
seeking support related to their child’s care, including guidance around behavior, emotional regulation, family transitions, and strengthening the parent-child relationship.
OUR APPROACH
We work from evidence-based, experiential, and relational therapy models, adapting our approach to the needs of each individual and family. Depending on the client and context, our work may include:
Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT)
Trauma-informed and attachment-based approaches
Brainspotting for teens and adults as part of trauma-focused work
Parent support and consultation
Individual therapy for teens and adults
Collaborative care that respects the client’s values, culture, and lived experience
Brainspotting is used thoughtfully and collaboratively, and may be integrated alongside other therapeutic approaches when appropriate. We do not take a one-size-fits-all approach to trauma work; care is tailored to each client’s readiness, goals, and nervous system needs.
We believe therapy should be intentional, transparent, and grounded in trust. Our role is not to rush insight or outcomes, but to create a space where growth can unfold in a way that feels steady and supported.
1:1 Counseling
Individual (1:1) therapy helps you slow down, make sense of what you are carrying, and build steadier ways of coping and connecting. Sessions are tailored to your goals and paced thoughtfully, with attention to emotional regulation, safety, and what feels sustainable over time.
We offer 1:1 care for children, teens, and adults. Depending on the client’s needs, individual work may include developmentally informed support, trauma-responsive approaches, relational therapy, and practical skills for navigating anxiety, stress, life transitions, and relationship challenges. For teens and adults, Brainspotting may be integrated when it is clinically appropriate and aligned with readiness and consent.
Coordinated Care
As a co-founded practice, Lauren and Chandler collaborate closely in their clinical work. In some cases, this may include coordinated care in which a child is seen in therapy while a caregiver meets separately with the other clinician.
When used, this approach can support continuity of care by preserving the child’s protected therapeutic space while caregivers receive guidance and support without intruding on the child’s process. This structure may be especially helpful during periods of transition or when coordinated child and parent work supports regulation and attachment.
This approach is used selectively and thoughtfully, based on clinical need and logistical feasibility. It is not a standard or guaranteed service and is arranged intentionally rather than scheduled routinely.
It all starts with a conversation.
