Laurie Ganberg, LICSW, PMH-C

(she/her)

About Me

I'm Laurie, a white cis, queer, fat woman and licensed independent clinical social worker. My approach to therapy is nonjudgmental and deeply compassionate. I respect you, your goals, and the ways in which you — your body, your brain and nervous system, your narratives, your emotional life — have made sense of the world and your place in it. I see my role as someone who can listen, explore with you, question, and support you in reconnecting with yourself and your inherent wisdom. I specialize in therapy with adults with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders like prenatal or postpartum depression or anxiety, including working with individuals who've experienced postpartum mania and psychosis; adjustment challenges related to fertility, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum; and difficulties with bonding. I am sensitive to the needs of folks struggling with infertility, individuals considering abortion or needing to terminate a pregnancy, and those who've had miscarriages, stillbirths, and pregnancy losses. I've worked with adults of all genders and birthing as well as non-birthing parents. This specialization just means that I have additional education, extensive experience over the last ten years in this particular area, and a certification in perinatal mental health. It doesn't mean that we only talk about issues related pregnancy, birth or parenting, or that I only see people during this period of their lives. I hold space for the ways in which larger systems and oppression affect us and seek to understand your experiences, strengths, values and challenges knowing that you are the expert on your life. I believe that we find healing, strength and resilience in connection — therapy might be one part of that, and healing also often happens in formal and informal groups, in our families, and in our communities. My private practice is a work-in-progress in terms of continuing to find ways to work within the mental health care system without perpetuating harm from oppressive systems and values in the US. I use diagnoses only in collaboration with clients when needed for access to care. I have found tremendous healing and support working with providers who are explicitly HAES or fat-positive so I want to be clear that I work from a fat liberation perspective.

Education & Experience

I have a Masters in Social Work from Smith College School for Social Work in Massachusetts and have had the privilege of working with individuals and families in their homes, reproductive health clinics, hospitals, higher levels of care, community agencies, and in private practice over the last 20 years. I completed my EMDR training with the Touchstone Institute, part of the Institute for Creative Mindfulness in 2022.

Professional & Volunteer Affiliations

I'm a member of the National Association of Social Workers, Postpartum Support International, Perinatal Support Washington, and the Association for Size Diversity and Health.

Specialty Area

  • Anxiety/Panic Attacks
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Birth Trauma/Pregnancy Loss
  • Depression
  • Eating Disorders
  • Family Issues
  • Gender Identity
  • Grief/Loss/Mourning
  • Mood Disorders
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders
  • Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Pregnancy, Prenatal, Postpartum

Population Served

  • Adults
  • Immigrants
  • LGBTQ+

Language

  • English

Insurance

  • Sliding Scale