Dr. Lauren Fisher knew she wanted to be a psychologist since she was 14 years old. “I’ve been interested in people’s stories for as long as I can remember,” she says. “I always had a deep desire to help others. I didn’t realize until later in life that much of this was born from seeing my mother suffer from depression when I was a teenager and feeling a bit powerless and fearful of her not healing. Fortunately, she did recover. It was a powerful lesson in seeing someone suffer and heal from a mental health condition. With my own personal growth over time, I have come to better understand the experiences of life, how trauma imprints are formed and the ways in which we adapt to protect ourselves.”
As for what she believes is the key to good mental health, Fisher says, “Awareness, honesty with oneself, connection with others, giving and receiving love and ‘doing your work,’ when needed. It takes courage to heal from some of our most painful experiences in life, but on the other side of fear is freedom. Our goal as therapists [is] to make that as easy and comfortable as possible."
In her own life, Fisher keeps her mental health sharp through intentional practices. “I continue to make choices and engage in activities that are in alignment with [my] values and desires,” she says. “I also spend time with people who are healthy, supportive and inspiring, and I regularly engage in fun and soul-fulfilling activities. I do my own ‘work!’ I continue to feed what helps me stay healthy and tend to what needs to be healed, which will be a lifelong journey.”
"I believe people possess the internal resources to heal and flourish, and my job is to help them discover the keys to unlock those doors to freedom and optimal well-being."
Over the years, Fisher’s work as a psychologist has given her a particular insight into the human condition. “I have come to appreciate that the true nature of most people is inherently good and wired for love and connection,” she says. “However, we all have wounds and have developed psychological defenses—or ways in which we relate to ourselves, others and the world. Our wounds come from a variety of different places—whether they are ancestral, generational, [familial], [cultural], [racial], [gendered] or even interpersonal experiences. While a mental health diagnosis of conditions is necessary for some reasons, I find that adopting a less pathological and more compassionate approach encourages individuals to be more open to understanding themselves and others. I believe people possess the internal resources to heal and flourish, and my job is to help them discover the keys to unlock those doors to freedom and optimal well-being.”