Laura Akins , LPC

Laura Akins is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Texas who brings 34 years of experience to her work with individuals facing stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, grief, low self-esteem, depression, addictions, trauma and abuse, and life transitions. Her counseling style is relaxed and relational - one person listening to and sharing with another - emphasizing human connection as a central part of healing.

Because victories and tragedies in her own life shaped her perspective, she is able to empathize with emotional pain and life challenges. Much of her career has focused on helping people reclaim peace and a sense of purpose when emotions and circumstances feel overwhelming. Her graduate research explored spiritual development, and she is skilled at integrating spiritual considerations into therapy when clients wish to address spiritual dimensions of their struggles, regardless of specific religious beliefs.

She works with a wide range of concerns, including coping with life changes, compassion fatigue, abandonment and codependency issues, commitment and control struggles, substance use concerns, family of origin patterns, first responder stress, guilt and shame, impulsivity, and questions of life purpose. She relates to others based on character rather than gender, race, politics, or creed, embracing a respectful, nonjudgmental approach to care.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, and focuses on clarifying values to guide meaningful action - useful for anxiety, depression, and life transitions. Client-Centered Therapy centers the relationship and the client's own experience, offering empathy, acceptance, and collaboration to support self-understanding and emotional growth - well suited to grief, self-esteem issues, and relational work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) identifies and shifts unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns, providing practical tools for managing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and mood challenges.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and a therapist will work collaboratively with each person to determine which methods best fit their needs, goals, and preferences. Decisions about techniques and pacing are made together to support progress that feels manageable and meaningful.

Online therapy with licensed professionals offers flexibility and accessibility, allowing people to connect by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options can make it easier to schedule sessions around work or caregiving responsibilities, maintain continuity during life changes, and access support from familiar surroundings.