Some words from Laura Clay,
Forward Emotion’s Founder, EMDR, IFS & Art Therapist

I am a people watcher. You can find me at a concert watching the crowd. I have always been interested in people, what they do, what they think, and how they feel.

I find it amazing the strength we all have within. I believe we are all like the phoenix, able to survive devastation and trauma only to come out of it stronger and better than before.

I love seeing people find their way and thrive in life. My clients amaze and inspire me every day. I feel I can see their internal ‘WARRIOR’ strength, and it is my job to guide them to finding that on their own. It is really what I love most about my job.

I am not a stranger to therapy. My mom took my sister and me to a family therapist as children. We talked about our problems, and I really appreciated the safe space of the therapist’s office. My mother taught me it was a good thing to talk about my feelings. I grew up thinking that was how everyone else was, too. I learned in grade school, that was not the case.

Ever since then, I have tried to help people work out problems, resolve conflicts, feel better. I have gone to counseling many times throughout my life for depression, anxiety and to work through change. In fact, I have used the techniques that I am trained in because they helped me so much! That is why I founded Forward Emotion, I want to help people like I have been helped by others.

Education

I earned my counseling and art therapy Master’s degree from Adler School of Professional Psychology in Chicago. I was also trained in EMDR by an EMDRIA-approved program. I have gone on to take several advanced trainings in EMDR because I find them so useful.

Read more about my journey in this VoyageChicago interview.

Read even more about me here in an interview from Psychology Arts.

Some fun facts about me

• When I am not working, I LOVE reading and re-watching Harry Potter. The books really make me feel like I am in the story!
• I am a cat person. Dogs are okay… but I LOVE CATS! I am known for bringing home random kittens. You never know where a kitten might need a home… my last two were from the UPS guy and my hairdresser’s friend. (My husband loves and hates that about me.)
• I also have a weird fascination with horror movies and clowns (although they scare the sh*t out of me).
• And, I am a mother of amazing twins (I may or may not be biased), a wife, daughter, sister and friend.

I Grew Strong, An online coaching and educational program

I Grew Strong is another business that I have created to help survivors of toxic and manipulative relationships finally move on and really start living their lives. This relationship may have been with a romantic partner, a relative, a friend or even a work relationship. That toxic and manipulative person may or many not be a narcissist. I too am a survivor of a damaging relationship. I view these types of relationships as a form of brainwashing since it continues to affect and impact how you think and feel. It caused me to question and doubt myself, which made life after the relationship so much harder than it should have been. After seeing so many of my therapy clients dealing with similar issues, I was inspired to do something more. The name came from one of my favorite songs, Gloria Gaynor’s, I Will Survive. That song helped me get through a really dark and difficult time in my life. I took the most powerful lyric and created a program out of it. I Grew Strong and so can you. Click here to learn more.

Learn more about Laura and I Grew Strong on the Chicago Psychology Podcast. To listen click the button below.