We recently connected with Laura Walton and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Laura, thanks for joining us today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your professional career?

I learned that I first need to get clear for myself on what my own boundaries are, so that I can ultimately be the best version of myself for my clients. I used to work as a therapist at an agency where we were required to see each client every week, so sometimes that meant we had to see the clients on weekends, or at something like 8pm. So it was common that I would be working from 8am-9pm some days. Needless to say, I was tired and overwhelmed, and no one wants a tired and overwhelmed therapist. When I got control of my own schedule, I had to get clear for myself on when I would be available to see clients. When I am able to stick with that, that ensures that I am well-rested, and am also able to tend to other things in my personal life. And when all those bases are covered, then I am a kick-ass therapist.

Laura, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am firstly a mental health therapist. I became a therapist because in my 20’s I had 2 significant deaths (my dad committed suicide, and my then-boyfriend died of a heroin overdose). I was not able to find much in terms of support for myself when I was heavily grieving, which is what inspired me to become a therapist. Through my years as a therapist working with death and grief, I have learned from my clients where there are significant gaps in the market in terms of support for grieving people. There are SO many ways that we can do better to support grief (especially since it is something the will affect every single one of us), and that is what inspired me to build lovelew, my newer business. Lovelew offers grief and trauma self-paced online courses, group grief coaching cohorts, and the logistical support needed to close out an estate after someone dies.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

My then-boyfriend died of a heroin overdose in 2007. I was 26 at the time. He was the closest person in the world to me, and I literally did not see how I could live life without him. I couldn’t find good grief support out there. There were no other people in their 20’s who were grieving a death, let alone the death of their partner. No one understood where I was. I felt so alone, and I was in so much pain for so many years. But I was determined to try to ease that pain, even just by 5%, for the next people in my shoes.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

I think that you have to be authentic, and you have to care. You can’t fake it in this field, or you will not survive, or people will see right through you. And if someone see through you, then they don’t trust you, and they certainly aren’t going to share their most vulnerable moments with you. You have to be real.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.withlovelew.com
• Instagram: @with_lovelew
• Facebook: Lovelew

Image Credits

Eunice Beck