Laurel Englesson, M.S., MHC-LP

Laurel (she/her) is a Mental Health Counselor and Certified Yoga Instructor.

Laurel has been working in the wellness space since 2014 when she completed her initial 200-hour yoga teacher training in an effort to support her own mental health. It was at this time that she knew her purpose and passion in life was to help others heal. Since then, Laurel has completed over 700 hours of various yoga teacher trainings and has assisted in teacher training programs in the Capital Region.  

Laurel graduated with a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from SUNY Albany and has clinical experience working at Albany Medical Center Outpatient Psychiatric Center and Schenectady Community Action Program, where she has worked with clients from diverse backgrounds. She also holds a Certificate in Graduate Studies in Mindfulness from Lesley University and is passionate about bringing meditation and mindfulness techniques into client sessions as appropriate. Through a non-profit she co-created (Holistic Youth Project), she taught adolescents yoga, mindfulness, self-care, and social and emotional learning skills.

While working collaboratively with you, she will customize a treatment plan that is suitable for your unique experiences and goals. She aims to provide holistic care that is mindfulness- and strength-based, trauma-informed, client-centered, and culturally competent. Her integrative style draws from various evidence-based approaches such as CBT, DBT, Solution-focused therapy, MBCT, Gestalt, and Psychodynamic therapy and is supplemented with holistic practices from her yoga and mindfulness background.

Laurel firmly believes that there is healing in connection and is dedicated to working to develop a meaningful, collaborative relationship with you by creating an environment in which you feel seen, heard, and understood. From this relational foundation, she can help you process the past, envision the future you want, and learn how to stay grounded in the present. In doing so, Laurel hopes to help you meet your most authentic Self so you can lead a happy, healthy, and fulfilled life.

In her free time, Laurel loves practicing yoga, hiking, cooking, listening to music (especially live), reading, traveling, and cuddling with her cat.