Lauren Hayes • therapist • equine specialist

If you're a teen or young woman feeling overwhelmed by emotions, life shifts, or questions about who you are, you're not alone. You might be someone who feels deeply, notices everything, and thinks a lot about the world and where you fit in. Maybe you're moving through anxiety, perfectionism, or a sensitivity that can feel out of place.

I work with young women who are exploring identity, navigating transitions, and trying to make sense of their internal landscape. Many of my clients are highly sensitive, creative, or living with ADHD, carrying both unique gifts and real challenges. I offer a space where all of that is welcome.

My approach is relational, body-based, and rooted in presence. I bring in somatic awareness, creative reflection, and nature-based experiences to support you in connecting more fully with yourself. Whether we're in the office, outdoors, or alongside a horse, our work is about cultivating clarity, cohesion, and embodied connection.

Therapy with me is collaborative and down to earth, we move at your pace, with curiosity, flexibility, and transparency. If you're feeling an urge to slow down, reconnect with a deeper self, I’d love to walk alongside you.

BOOK SESSION

  • I completed my clinical training at CALM, the Santa Barbara School District, and Family Service Agency, where I worked with teens and young adults who have experienced a wide range of trauma and loss. During this time, I developed a special focus of supporting young women as they navigate the complex terrain from adolescence to early adulthood.

    In addition to my work as a therapist, I earned my certification as an Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning in 2017. For the past 8 years, I’ve facilitated equine-guided therapy and learning with individuals, groups, and community partners. Through my work as an equine specialist, I’ve come to deeply appreciate how mindful presence with horses can cultivate somatic awareness, emotional attunement, and authentic relationship.

    Being with horses organically led me to study somatic psychotherapy and integrate body-based practices to support young women in regulating their nervous systems, reconnecting with their bodies, and developing a deeper sense of cohesion.

    I grew up in Ojai, where my most meaningful experiences took place in connection with the natural world. This has become the heart of my work—offering young women grounded experiences in nature for reflection, self-discovery, and embodied awareness.

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    Depth-Oriented

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    Somatic-Focused

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    Nature-Based

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    Person-Centered

  • Equine Specialist in Mental Health + Learning | Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, 2017.

    Master’s of Counseling Psychology — Specialization in Depth Psychology | Pacifica Graduate Institute, 2021.

    Registered Associate Marriage + Family Therapist: 127843 | CA Board of Behavioral Sciences, 2021. Supervised by: Wendy Elliott, LPCC: 491.

    Certified Somatic Psychotherapy Practitioner | The Body Knows, 2025.

    Certified Grief + Loss Practitioner | Conscious Grieving - Claire Bidwell Smith, 2025.

AREAS OF FOCUS

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Teens, 13+

Women, 20s + 30s

Self-Discovery

Identity Shifts + Life Transitions

Grief + Loss

Perfectionism

Anxiety

ADHD

Creative Expression

Somatic Awareness

Nature Connection