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LP Portrait of Laura Pengelly

Laura Pengelly

Compassionate family-focused therapist

LMFT Pennsylvania

Experience
22 years in practice
Focus areas
Relationship, Family, Trauma and abuse
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy
Languages
English

About Laura

Laura Pengelly is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who draws on over two decades of clinical work to help people navigate relationship and family challenges, mood disorders, and the aftermath of trauma.

Background and approach

She centers a collaborative, respectful approach that explores how a person views their difficulties and identifies practical steps toward change. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the methods she uses to help clients reframe unhelpful thinking and develop new coping skills.

Her practice addresses a wide range of concerns including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, grief, parenting and fatherhood issues, intimacy and communication problems, and stress. She also brings experience with attachment concerns, autism and Asperger syndrome, blended family dynamics, and youth-focused problems such as disruptive mood dysregulation disorder.

Laura’s style blends interactive, solution-oriented work with narrative and trauma-focused techniques to meet the needs of each individual or family. Based in Pennsylvania, she offers a supportive space for people to explore feelings, repair relationships, and pursue realistic goals.

Her aim is to understand the whole person and to partner with clients in finding manageable, meaningful solutions.

Approach-Focused Care Delivered Online



Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps clients identify unhelpful thought patterns and develop concrete skills to manage mood, anxiety, and stress. In practice it focuses on changing thinking and behavior to produce measurable improvements in daily functioning. Narrative Therapy invites clients to examine the stories they tell about themselves and their relationships, separating problems from identity so that new, more empowering narratives can emerge and guide change.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and current concerns to determine whether CBT, narrative techniques, solution-focused strategies, or trauma-focused methods - alone or in combination - best suit a client’s needs. This shared decision-making helps tailor sessions so they feel relevant and focused on meaningful progress.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to engage through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, which can make it easier to fit work into busy schedules and to access support from home. These formats allow for regular contact and adaptable pacing so clients and licensed professionals can work together in ways that match their lives and goals.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with relationship and family issues, trauma and abuse, parenting challenges, stress, anxiety, grief, intimacy-related concerns, anger, self-esteem, career questions, bipolar and depression, among other mood and family issues.
What therapeutic styles does she use in sessions?
Her work blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with narrative, solution-focused, and trauma-focused approaches to help clients reframe thinking, explore personal stories, and build practical strategies.
How long has she been practicing?
She brings 22 years of clinical experience working with individuals and families across a broad range of concerns.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist with the Pennsylvania license PA LMFT MF000859 and practices from Pennsylvania.
Does she offer services in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English only and she is not accepting international clients at this time.
What formats are available for sessions?
Clients can connect through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on availability and preference.
How are fees and subscriptions handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How does someone begin working with her?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Relationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseParenting issues

Also works with

Stress, AnxietyGriefIntimacy-related issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderDepression

Additional focus areas

Attachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeBlended family issuesCommitment issuesCommunication problemsDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Family of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesForgivenessMood disordersYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Narrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

22+ years

Licensed

Pennsylvania

Languages

English