We are honored to have Lauren Dyches join our team of counselors at Redeemer Counseling. She will be seeing clients at both the Winter Springs and East Orlando office locations. If you're interested in scheduling an appointment with Lauren please contact our office at 407-405-7677.
Michael: Why did you decide to go back to school to be a counselor?
Lauren: Counseling has made a significant impact in my life since childhood, through college, and into life post college. It was so helpful that when I graduated with my Bachelor’s degree, I planned to continue on to get a Masters in counseling. As God would have it, I was instead led to work with a missions organization in Miami. Yet, hearing the stories of pain, trauma, anxiety, depression, hopelessness, shame, and other struggles from the students and families I ministered to fueled my desire to be able to better help people heal. I knew I wanted to go back to school to be better trained to come alongside people to help them in their journey of healing.
M: What is something that has shaped you as a counselor?
L: When I was a young girl, I was viscously mauled by a dog. The resulting physical scars on my face also came with deep emotional and spiritual scars. God has worked through my scars to show me a story of redemption, one in which he brought good from terrible circumstances, and walked with me in my pain to repurpose it into passion to help others experience hope and live a full life. Through my process of healing, God has shown me that just as Jesus’ scars show us a story of redemption, grace, and hope, so also our scars can become stories of the same in Christ. These experiences have helped me to understand and have compassion for the results of trauma including anxiety, fear, depression, etc. With these experiences as a guide, my hope is to help people to process and cope with the pain in their lives, and see how God redeems, loves, and values them.
M: What is something you are learning?
L: As a new mom, I am experiencing a huge life transition. I am reminded of how quickly fear and anxiety set in when we are in transition because we feel uncertain and insecure. My first instinct is to learn and do as much as I can to feel a sense of control. However, when I take a step back, I realize that life is full of uncertainty and insecurity and that I am not in control no matter how hard I try. I am reminded that it is so important to process this anxiety, let go of control, and that God is for me.
M: What do you love about crossing cultures?
L: When I moved to Miami, I encountered an array of diverse cultures. I developed friendships with people from the Philippines, Bahamas, Cuba, Colombia, Haiti, Venezuela etc. I enjoyed asking questions and learning from their life experiences. As I experience other cultures and meet people that are different than me, I better see the strengths and beauty of others. I am able to step outside myself to better love others, learn from them, and also learn more about myself.
M: What provides joy and rest?
L: Personally, I find myself rejuvenated as I walk and talk with friends, get coffee or play card and board games. Being with people that I know and love, especially my husband and son, is life-giving to me. Another way that I de-stress is regularly working out with my husband, whether it be playing tennis, basketball, bike riding, or lifting weights at the gym.