Lauren Brande, M.A.

Holistic Therapist (in training)

While my professional journey spans the worlds of financial technology, clinical addiction research, sexual health education, and the movement arts, the core of my work has always remained the same: building safe containers for human transformation. My background in systems architecture and product management taught me how to map complex internal landscapes and honor the "logic" of the systems we inhabit. My time in clinical research and behavioral health provided a rigorous foundation in the science of crisis and recovery, while my work in sexual health and community education honed my ability to sit with vulnerability and dismantle the barriers of shame. My years as a wilderness guide and flow arts facilitator taught me the most vital lesson of all: that true healing is a somatic event - it is something we must feel, move, and live in our bodies.

These diverse spaces, along with my personal healing journey, taught me that healing is not just an intellectual process, but a lived, somatic experience. I am passionate about the intersection of nervous system regulation and transformative creative expression, bringing a warm, grounded, and encouraging presence to my clinical work. Whether we are navigating the "backend" of internal narratives or moving through a somatic processing session, I strive to help bridge the gap between mind, body, spirit, and community. Together, we work to integrate these layers, moving toward a life that feels not just understood, but fully inhabited. My goal is to hold a container where clients feel safe to explore the wisdom inherent in themselves, moving from a place of survival into a flourishing garden of play, connection, and holistic vitality.

My Garden of Experience

Circus Wrangler

Co-Producer & Co-Director | Aries Moon Circus, 2021-Present

In this role, I facilitate community-based movement experiences that bridge the gap between physical discipline and emotional processing. By organizing flow arts and fire-spinning events, I create a ritualized container for movement meditation, where participants engage with the edges of their comfort zones in a safe, structured environment. My work focuses on teaching the intersection of technical skill and emotional embodiment, helping individuals use circus arts as a tool for self-expression, nervous system regulation, and the release of stored tension through rhythmic flow states.

I am particularly focused on the safety and psychology of play. Organizing these events requires a high level of technical oversight, managing the inherent risks of fire and movement, which mirrors the therapeutic need to provide a sturdy container for intense emotional work. Through workshops and group sessions, I guide participants in using movement to process internal experiences that are often beyond words, fostering a collective environment of shared vulnerability, mutual support, and creative liberation.

Marketing Magician

Product Manager & Content Strategist | Allworth Financial, 2019-2024

In this role, I acted as a strategic architect for digital human experiences, focusing on the intersection of complex systems and individual user needs. I spearheaded the development of educational products and advisor-matching programs, which required a deep understanding of consumer psychology and the client journey. By translating high-level organizational goals into intuitive, accessible digital tools, I balanced technical precision with a human-first philosophy. My work was rooted in creating containers: digital spaces designed for clarity, safety, and empowerment during high-stakes life transitions like retirement planning.

Beyond product development, I demonstrated a commitment to institutional health and ethics. I managed large-scale compliance projects (ADA and WCAG) to ensure radical accessibility for diverse populations and co-founded an initiative for women’s professional empowerment to foster a culture of collective support. This experience honed my ability to manage complex, multi-layered projects while maintaining a focus on relational ethics, systemic organization, and the nuances of human interaction.

Supportive Researcher

Product Strategist & Clinical Content Researcher | American Addiction Centers, 2015-2019

In this multi-faceted role, I operated at the intersection of behavioral health and digital strategy for a portfolio of over 30 websites. I was responsible for translating complex medical and clinical research into digestible, SEO-optimized content, ensuring that individuals seeking help for substance use disorders could find authoritative and compassionate resources. By building internal reference systems that aligned marketing efforts with current clinical standards, I acted as a steward of brand integrity and medical accuracy, ensuring that the "digital front door" to treatment was both ethical and evidence-based.

My work was deeply rooted in systems thinking and population health. I utilized demographic surveys and customer research to map the needs of those in crisis, creating product roadmaps that functioned as supportive pathways toward recovery. Through Agile leadership and cross-departmental collaboration, I managed the delicate balance of high-level organizational goals with the urgent, lived needs of the individual. This role solidified my ability to hold large-scale systemic complexity while remaining focused on the singular goal of making life-saving information accessible to those who need it most.

Community Educator

Assistant Manager & Community Educator | Pure Pleasure Shop, 2009-2015

In this community-facing role, I served as a facilitator for sexual health, empowerment, and body-based education. I conceptualized and taught adult education classes designed to demystify pleasure and anatomy, moving beyond clinical definitions to help individuals reclaim their physical agency. By working closely with the local community, particularly in empowering women, I gained extensive experience navigating the intersection of somatic awareness, shame-reduction, and relational health. My work focused on creating a non-judgmental educational container where complex topics could be explored with curiosity rather than stigma.

Beyond direct education, I acted as a bridge between health information and community needs. Through the design of targeted advertisements and monthly newsletters, I translated concepts of consent, boundaries, and sexual wellness into accessible, empowering language. This role sharpened my ability to discuss sensitive, deeply personal subjects with clinical professionalism and warmth, fostering an environment where individuals felt safe enough to explore the most intimate aspects of their lived experience.

Environmental Advocate

Kayak Tour Guide & Rentals Manager | Venture Quest Kayaks, 2011-2015

As a guide and manager in a high-sensory marine environment, my role was centered on somatic safety and environmental attunement. I was responsible for facilitating an immersive experience where clients had to navigate the unpredictable elements of the Pacific Ocean while maintaining a regulated nervous system. By providing clear safety education and real-time guidance, I acted as a secure base, allowing customers to move through their initial fear or discomfort and find a state of flow and connection with the local wildlife and ecosystem.

This experience deepened my understanding of how the natural world serves as a powerful partner in the healing process. Managing the physical and emotional safety of diverse groups - often in moments of high adrenaline or physical challenge - honed my ability to provide steady, calm containment. I learned how to help others ground themselves in their physical bodies and the present moment, using the rhythm of the water and the presence of nature as anchors for regulation and awe.

Clinical Interests

My clinical philosophy is rooted in the belief that therapy is a journey toward radical integration. I specialize in applying a somatic lens to traditional therapeutic approaches, moving beyond talk therapy to engage the wisdom of the body. By befriending the unconscious through connective practices - such as dance/movement processing, expressive arts, and formative psychology - I strive to help clients bridge the gap between their internal world and their lived experience. My work focuses on fostering a deep partnership with the many nuanced aspects of the self, utilizing frameworks like somatic Internal Family Systems (IFS), dream exploration, and play therapy to create a supportive container. Within this space, my goal is for you to find a profound sense of safety, allowing your organic and unique process of self-discovery to unfold naturally.

Somatic Integration

This work involves moving beyond intellectual understanding to inhabit the felt sense of the body, allowing physical sensations to guide the healing of the nervous system. By weaving together movement and awareness, we bridge the gap between mind and body to transform stuck patterns into fluid, lived experiences of ease.

Befriend the Unconscious

This practice invites a curious dialogue with the hidden parts of our psyche through expressive arts, dreams, and movement. Instead of viewing the unknown as something to fear, we use these creative tools to translate the language of the unconscious into insights that support your conscious growth.

Explore Layers of Self

We work to honor the many nuanced "parts" of your identity, such as the inner child, the protector, or the dreamer, using narrative and archetypal frameworks. By fostering a compassionate relationship with these various internal aspects, you can move toward a sense of wholeness and authentic self-leadership.

The Power of the Group: Healing in Relation

I am particularly passionate about the transformative potential of Somatic Group Therapy. While individual work is vital, I believe that because many of our deepest wounds are relational, they require a relational space to truly mend. Group work offers a unique, affordable, and accessible path to healing where we don't just talk about change, we live the shift in real-time. By navigating our social struggles within a shared therapeutic environment, we can process what words alone cannot reach, finding resonance and collective strength in our shared human experience.

Education

2024-Present

M.A. Counseling Psychology (Somatic Concentration)
California Institute of Integral Studies

My clinical focus integrates psychodynamics and somatic processing to befriend the unconscious, specifically utilizing play therapy and somatic IFS as transformative tools for both children and adults to achieve radical self-integration and trauma healing.

2013-2014

M.A. Psychology
Boston University

Specialization in the effects of drugs and trauma on brain function and neurobiology.

University High Honors, Summa cum laude

2007-2011

B.A. Psychology
University of California, Santa Cruz

Recipient of the Western Psychological Association Scholarship for undergraduate research.

University Honors, Magna cum laude

Personal Practices

Dance & Flow Arts

Movement processing

I am dedicated to a somatic practice that integrates movement processing dance, flow arts, and fire spinning. This approach allows me to explore and process emotions, helping me to navigate fears and uncover my inner guidance. Through the fluidity of movement, I connect deeply with my body, fostering a sense of awareness and release. My journey reflects the power of expressive arts in promoting healing and personal growth.

Singing Meditation

Harmonic grounding

In my somatic practice of singing meditation, I immerse myself in the soothing vibrations of sound, often enhanced by the power of singing bowls. This practice touches me deeply, creating a profound connection with the world around me. As the harmonies flow through and envelop me, I experience a sense of unity and peace, allowing me to explore the depths of being and the energy that surrounds me.

Yin/Restorative Yoga

Gentle surrender

In my personal practice of yin and restorative yoga, I focus on surrendering deeply to the present moment. This gentle approach allows me to embrace discomfort as it arises, fostering a profound sense of self-observance. Through each pose, I cultivate a space for inner observation, enabling me to connect with my true self and nurture my well-being in the serenity of deep surrender.