Compassionate psychology
Balancing Minds Wellness provides compassionate, empathic care rooted in connection, respect, and presence. The practice offers a safe, supportive environment for individuals and families navigating the lasting impact of trauma.
Services
Individual Therapy
Work includes stabilization, nervous system regulation, parts-informed exploration, and paced trauma processing. EMDR and DBT skills are included when appropriate.
- Complex PTSD; developmental & attachment trauma
- Dissociation, DID, and identity fragmentation
- Trauma-related anxiety and emotional overwhelm
Couples Therapy
Our therapeutic approach is designed to create a secure space for healing and growth. Our work together includes:
- Stabilization: Building a foundation of safety and security within your relationship.
- Nervous System Regulation: Learning to manage emotional reactivity and find a sense of calm together.
- Parts-Informed Exploration: Understanding the different parts of yourselves and how they interact within the relationship dynamic.
- Paced Trauma Processing: Gently addressing past wounds and their impact on your present at a pace that feels safe.
- Integrated Therapeutic Skills: Incorporating proven methods from EMDR and DBT when appropriate to enhance healing and communication.
Parent Coaching
Developmentally sensitive, play-informed, and caregiver-inclusive therapy for children.
- Sand Tray Therapy
- Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)
Fees & Insurance
1
Out-of-Network (OON)
Many clients receive partial reimbursement from their insurance for psychotherapy services via OON benefits.
2
Good Faith Estimate
You are entitled to a Good Faith Estimate of costs under the No Surprises Act.
3
Payment
Payment is due at the time of service. Cash and check are accepted. Credit cards are not accepted.
Dr. Laura Ness, Psy.D.
Balancing Minds Wellness provides compassionate, empathic care rooted in connection, respect, and presence. The practice offers a safe, supportive environment for individuals and families navigating the lasting impact of trauma.
Dr. Laura Ness, Psy.D. is licensed in New York and Florida with advanced training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Trauma Model Therapy, the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), Sand Tray Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and DID integration therapy.
She also holds two Master’s degrees — one in General Psychology and one in Clinical Psychology — which provided a strong academic foundation for her doctoral work. Her doctoral dissertation examined dissociative identity disorder in adult male survivors of childhood sexual abuse, focusing on characteristics and symptom profiles. This research provided important insights into how complex trauma manifests in men through dissociative symptoms, identity challenges, and coping strategies, deepening her expertise in the treatment of severe trauma.
In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Ness is a published author and presenter, with contributions to peer-reviewed journals, professional conferences, and community publications on trauma, dissociation, and child protection.
Selected Publications & Professional Contributions
- Ness, L. (2004). Book review: Sexually Abused Males: The SAM Model of Theory and Practice by J. Spiegel. Family Violence & Sexual Assault Bulletin, 20(2).
- Presenter, ISSTD 24th International Fall Conference.
- Ness, L., & Ross, C. (2010). The Dissociative Trance Disorder Interview Schedule.
- Galasso, J., & Ness, L. (2008). Understanding and Treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. PsychDigest, 2(8), 36–38.
- Ross, C., & Ness, L. (2010). Symptom Patterns in Dissociative Identity Disorder Patients and the General Population. Journal of Trauma and Dissociation, 11(4), 458–468.
- Ness, L. (2011, December). Fix My “Bad” Child. GEM Magazine, 38.
- Ness, L. (2012, Winter). To Punish or Not to Punish? That is the Question. GEM Magazine, 40.
- Ness, L. (2012, August). Take a Stand to Protect Our Children. GEM Magazine, 11.
- Ross, C., Schroder, E., & Ness, L. (2013). Dissociation and Symptoms of Culture-Bound Syndromes in North America: A Preliminary Study. Journal of Trauma and Dissociation.
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