Lara Kingstone
MSc, MSW, LSW | Therapist
she / her
Therapy and the pursuit of self knowledge has transformed my inner world and my life, so I deeply believe in its capacity to change our realities. I came to this work after spending my twenties in the human rights field after I realized my most meaningful work was the direct care, focusing on engaging with people rather than programming or policy.
I have always adored people. And I want to help people feel like their fullest, most aware selves.
By building compassion, nuance, self-understanding and emotional literacy within, we create ripple effects on the world around us. I love watching people grow healthier dynamics, untangle their patterns and histories, and build more love and trust for themselves.
My work is truly and deeply client-led, and I want you to know you have agency and options in your care. So much of healthcare can be deeply disempowering, but our partnership is one of collaboration and collective untangling, rather than instruction or prescription. I believe our path to internal freedom is bound in our commitment to honoring our inner child, accepting ourselves, and listening to our bodies and inner truths. There are challenging systemic inequalities and realities that cannot be denied, but that makes it even more urgent to liberate the inside of our minds. I believe life is full of little choices that can lead to greater freedom, and I am committed to showing up with authenticity and integrity and encouraging you do the same.
I know it is so vulnerable to show up and share your inner world with someone youโve never met, and I commend your bravery already. Life can be deeply overwhelming and isolating, and I view my work as fostering connection and relationships while supporting growth. I am also here to accompany you as you uncover the inherent knowledge of self you hold. Our sessions will move at a pace you are comfortable with: doing work, celebrating wins, laughing, grieving and processing together.
LANGUAGES SPOKEN
English
THERAPY APPROACHES
Acceptance & Commitment (ACT)
Culturally Sensitive
Art Therapy
Mindfulness-Based
Compassion Focused
IN THE THERAPY ROOM
Humorous
Holistic
Exploratory
Trauma-Informed
Radically Accepting
YOU CAN FIND ME
Collaging and making mixed-media art, cooking and eating, slowing down, travel, learning about the world!
IโM ALL ABOUT
Bravery, communication, campfires, biking through dappled sunlight, dancing, the pursuit of a fulfilled life!
Clinician Details
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Aetna
Anthem
BCBS PPO Plans
Capital Blue Cross
Geisinger
Highmark
Independence Blue Cross (IBX) PPO Plans
Insurance credentialing for the below panels is in progress:
Optum / United Healthcare
UPMC
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$115 (53-minute session)
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Telehealth
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Individual Therapy
Relationship Therapy
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Preteens / Tweens (11-13)
Adolescents / Teens (14-18)
Adults (18+)
Specialties
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Sex and sexuality can be at the crux of many thingsโbody image, trauma, relationships, authenticity and more! It can be a space for self-knowledge and acceptance, vitality, play and joy. But it can also be a realm wrought with anxiety, triggers, maladaptive coping and self-abandonment. By untangling sexual challenges, we can address root issues, through trauma-informed CBT, narrative and mindfulness-based therapy.
I talk about sex in a frank, open-minded way which deconstructs shame. I hold space with compassion, patience and humor to provide a corrective experience for people who may have experienced sexuality being a place of judgement or taboo. I respect that this can be a challenging and uncomfortable subject and I prioritize you feeling comfortable and professionally cared for.
Much of my career has focused on working with survivors of sexual violence and navigating how to return to the body after trauma. I wrote both my MSc and MSW dissertations on sexuality.
Whether you want to work on self consciousness, pleasure activism, the dismantling of shame, relationship challenges, or healing from past trauma, I would be honored to work on this together.
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Anxiety and panic can make you feel like youโre not running the show in your own brain. Our brains work hard to misguidedly protect us from danger, but can impact our daily functioning, happiness and relationships. I know how painful anxiety can be, but I also know that it does not have to prevent you from leading a courageous, fulfilling life.
I provide warm, patient, and compassionate care with a true passion for helping people regain their power. I approach this issue from multiple lenses. We work on separating from the thoughts, becoming the witness rather than identifying with the thoughts. We can engage critically with our thoughts through ACT and CBT.
But thinking isnโt always the way out and anxiety and panic often happen primarily in the body. Therefore, interoception, mindfulness and DBT can all help us address the physical symptoms to break the spiral. Through somatic awareness, we can build up a practical toolkit of skills and resources to notice, process and respond to triggers, so that you can live a life with more freedom and ease, where the inside of your mind can feel like a safer place.
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Throughout our lives, the deepest relationship is with ourselves. That means becoming a friend and true supporter to ourselves is both sacred and essential work. There are so many forces that impact self worth, from societal messaging, trauma, and harmful childhood dynamics.
Creating a kinder inner relationship is not easy but it is absolutely possible, and it is a rewarding and meaningful experience. We do this by uncovering the origins of your negative-self-talk, identifying and challenging the core beliefs you have about yourself. and building out challenges and goals that lead to deeper confidence.
CBT, compassion-focused therapy, and ACT will be our tools for this, but weโll also look for the ways in which self-betrayal sneaks into your life, by investigating values and disconnects and working on people pleasing, unhealthy dynamics and the negation of your own needs.
You are valid and worthy of kindness, and a real respite from the challenging external world, without needing to earn it. You deserve it by virtue of being human. Self-acceptance, self-forgiveness and self-appreciation are primary ways to ease our pain, loneliness and suffering, and I am passionate about accompanying you there!
