Meet Trailblazer Lauren Scott

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Scott.

Lauren, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have always been interested in the healing journeys people go through and spend my life healing my wounds and reclaiming my story. When I was young, I enjoyed making creatures out of clay and playing the piano as ways of self-soothing and coping with my feelings. It was a natural fit for my mom to recommend that I pursue counseling when I graduated from college. I found myself with a degree in music, art, and modern and classical languages and not a clue what to do with it. So, I pursued my MA in Counseling and started down that path.

I started working at an intense job one year after graduating from grad school and worked there for two years. I gradually realized how burnt out I felt from the crisis situations that I responded to and decided that: a) I was the worst therapist ever and b) I couldn’t handle others pain. I felt the toll on my nervous system that I had given my heart to support others but not protected myself.

I quit my job and looked for another career. On a whim, I joined an Ecotherapy training in California and attempted to salvage my career as a therapist. I didn’t realize that my heart needed that training as much as my career did. When I got to California, I camped for eight days in the Redwoods with a few of the participants and we went to training during the days. I volunteered as a “guinea pig” during one of the first days and had a profound experience of being seen and held within the group and through the therapy modality. I felt that I was connected to the people around me but also to the earth and to the animals that inhabited it which was a crazy unusual experience for someone who has a profound fear of spiders and being out in nature. It was incredible to see how animals and the surrounding experiences in nature respond to us. I left the week feeling like a part of me that I hadn’t experienced since childhood had been unearthed and given life. From then on, I wanted to offer that gift to others.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has been challenging and doubt has hitched a ride on every project I have attempted. I have tried to start groups and offer workshops that failed. As a woman of color, it is challenging to enter into the outdoor space in Colorado. It is also challenging to become an entrepreneur. I am learning the power of my voice and using it to advocate for myself as advocating for others has been easier for me. I am learning that doubt and fear are natural parts of the journey and not something to avoid or silence. They just don’t get to be in control of my actions.

My advice for anyone starting their journey is to learn to hear and follow your inner guiding voice. It is difficult to hear anything in this noisy and crowded world but learning to be quiet and listen to our inner guidance is key to living a meaningful life and creating what the world actually needs.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Grace Springs Counseling – what should we know?
I am an Eco therapist and artist. Ecotherapy is a fancy term for taking therapy outdoors. I work with women and girls who experience anxiety, depression, or have had past traumatic experiences or are wanting to gain more confidence and get more in tune with their inner guidance. I am proud of my ability to sit with people in pain and listen with them. I am also a proud advocate for women of color to experience healing for themselves and their families.

My healing journey sets me apart from others. I am an unusual person to enjoy the outdoors and helping others connect with nature as a healing force because of my background but I am proof that anyone can overcome barriers to enjoying the outdoors.

Which women have inspired you in your life?
So many women has been inspirations to me. My mom is one of my biggest inspirations as she is a fighter and has overcome significant barriers in her life to continue to love and care for others. My mom has a strong faith that has helped her to move through chronic pain, surgeries, and discouraging situations. I look up to women like Oprah and Michelle Obama who have maintained prominent public images and haven’t lost their integrity or commitment to their values.

Contact Info:

• Address: Indoor office: 8 Inverness Drive E. Suite 120Outdoor offices: Lair o’ the bear, Cherry Creek State Park, Jeff Co Open Space, and many others
• Website: www.gracespringscounseling.com
• Phone: 303-472-2566
• Email: lauren@gracespringscounseling.com
• Instagram: www.instragram.com/laurenhscott
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/gracespringscounseling

Image Credit:
Jes K Photography; Michiel de Kock Authentic Photography

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