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Lauren joined the Office of Victim Assistance in January 2024 as a Victim Advocate Counselor.ÌýLauren received her Bachelor's in Social Work from Stockton University and her Master's in Social Work with a concentration in child welfare and child well-being from the University of Pennsylvania. Lauren is clinically licensed inÌýColorado andÌýCalifornia.

Before joining OVA, Lauren worked as a child advocate social worker in Philadelphia, where she provided legal and social services advocacy.ÌýShe also previously served as a trauma therapist for children.ÌýAside from direct clinical services, Lauren previously worked with survivors of human trafficking in a policy role to advocate for survivor-led initiatives ranging in projects from state legislation to community-based advocacy.ÌýHer other advocacy efforts also include providing expert witness testimony in court proceedings, as well as organizing community wide discussions on how to best serve community members in a way that is based in harm reduction and amplifies the voices of survivors.Ìý

Lauren approaches therapeutic interventions and advocacyÌýusing a diverse set of modalities, such as, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and polyvagal theory. Lauren also has a special interest and training in neurodiversity and incorporates this lens into her trauma work with individuals who identify as neurodivergent.ÌýLauren cares deeply about an individual's right to be supported and believed and is passionate about providing these services in a way that is welcoming, empoweringÌýand within a decolonial framework. Ìý