Meet Our Team

Lawana Mortensen, LMFT

Philosophy

Lawana believes strongly in the importance of family relationships and the role connection can play in healing. Working from a family systems perspective, she helps clients better understand the experiences and patterns influencing how they see themselves and relate to others. She is especially passionate about helping children, individuals, and families heal from trauma and create healthier, more connected relationships.

Lawana brings a down-to-earth, straightforward approach to therapy balanced with warmth and compassion. She strives to create an environment where clients feel comfortable being themselves while receiving the support and guidance needed to create meaningful change.

Areas of Focus

Lawana works with children, individuals, and families, with particular interests in trauma, anxiety, depression, parenting, and family relationships. She views trauma broadly as experiences that negatively impact a person’s sense of self and works to help clients heal those experiences while developing healthier patterns moving forward.

Therapeutic Approach

Lawana specializes in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and is an EMDRIA Certified Therapist and Approved Consultant, allowing her to support both clients and other EMDR clinicians. She also incorporates Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help clients develop practical skills and address unhelpful patterns in thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

Education and Credentials

Lawana is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). She earned her Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Northcentral University and her Bachelor’s Degree in Family Studies from Brigham Young University. She is certified by EMDRIA in EMDR both as a Clinician as well as a Consultant for other EMDR focused clinicians.

Beyond the Therapy room

Lawana and her husband have six adult children, two granddaughters, and their dog, Kota. She has spent more than 25 years serving children and families throughout the East Valley and has enjoyed teaching community classes focused on mental health, parenting, and strengthening relationships.

Outside of work, Lawana enjoys traveling, visiting her children, reading and learning new things, supporting her husband’s love of the outdoors, and college football.

Rates

$175 / 50-minute session