“Joy is not in things; it is in us.” – Richard Wagner

I believe that we are meant for creativity and connection.

I believe that the act of creation is sacred.

I believe that to live in Love is our highest calling.

I believe that joy and laughter are gifts we should share freely {and often} with others!

I believe fiercely in the power of hope and kindness to heal.

I also believe that women are wild, passionate, vulnerable, complicated, and stronger than we ever imagined!

I seek to support and empower those who want to find peace and joy in their stories.

Hello!  My name is Karla Lawrence (she/her/hers), founder of Grow Joy and multi-passionate artist, writer, healer and teacher.  My mission is to help compassionate women and soulful introverts create and grow joy in their lives by learning how to prioritize their self-care.

Through counseling, coaching, creative journal writing, & mindfulness practices, I help individuals learn to know, like, and trust themselves unconditionally; without guilt.

I offer distance (online, TeleMental health) counseling and coaching services, along with personalized class, workshop & retreat experiences designed to help individuals stop putting themselves last and start nurturing themselves first.

I am a Health At Every Size (HAES) informed practitioner and believe in creating a safe emotional space for those in marginalized bodies & communities. I specialize in self-care, anxiety, codependency, compassion fatigue & burnout recovery, women’s issues, & “self-of the therapist” development.

As an artist, I enjoy creating mixed media paintings that celebrate the feminine.

As the founder and former owner of the Creative Counseling & Consultation Center and Karla’s Mixed Media Studio, I have been nurturing the well-being of adults through counseling, life coaching, education, art, and yoga for over 15 years.

If you are ready to create and grow joy in your personal and professional life please contact me to schedule a free consultation and explore how we might work together.

Wishing you more peace & joy than your heart can hold!

Creatively,

Credentials

  • Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Maryland (#LC3668)
  • Board Approved Clinical Supervisor in Maryland (#LC3668)
  • Board Certified TeleMental Health Provider (BC-TMH, #572)
  • Certified Professional Coach (CPC, #2236)

Additional Training

  • 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training, Northwest Christian Yoga Academy, Westminster, MD (2017) & former Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200)
  • Trauma and Attachment & Treating the Cycle of Self-Destructive Behaviors, presented by Lisa Ferentz, LCSW-C (2018)
  • Internal Family Systems (IFS) 2-Day Intensive, presented by Richard Schwartz, PhD (2018)
  • Mitigating Traumatic Stress with Somatic Interventions, presented by Alicia Baron, LCPC, ECYT500, C-IAYT, SEP (2019)
  • Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) 2-Day Certificate Course, presented by Elana Rosenbaum, LICSW (2019)
  • Emotional Eating, Chronic Dieting, Bingeing and Body Image: What Every Clinician Needs to Know, presented by Judith Matz, LCSW (2019)
  • Emotional Freedom Techniques & Tapping, presented by Robin Bilazarian, LCSW, DCSW, DCEP, AAMET (2021)