Elements Counseling & Wellness Spa

Lauren Aikin-Smith, PhD, LCSW, CHES is an open and warm-hearted licensed clinical social worker and certified health education specialist. Lauren moved from Lancaster County to Pittsburgh in 2005 to attend the University of Pittsburgh. Upon graduating from her undergraduate program in applied developmental psychology she served as an AmeriCorps member in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood. Lauren then returned back to Pitt for her Master's degrees in direct practice Social Work and Public Health. While working at Carnegie Mellow University (CMU) and in private clinical practice Lauren also completed a Master's of Education and PhD in Human Sexuality Studies (sex therapy and sex education). She has worked with many students on mental health issues and also taught several classes at the university level around mental health, sexuality and relationships, and general stress management.

Lauren is trained to help her clients with LGBTQ issues, sexuality, sexual functioning and pleasure, foster care and adoption, infertility, relationship/marital stress, and body image. Lauren works through a non-shaming and sex-positive lens, prioritizing communication and pleasure for everyone. She has worked with a diverse group of clients over the last several years, including individuals, couples, or triads that are part of the LGBTQ, kink, and poly communities and those with ‘non-traditional’ relationships. Lauren also has experience working from a family-based perspective and has worked with children, adolescents, and adults in the past.

Lauren specializes in relationship and sex therapy utilizing an integrative approach.  She believes that every individual and relationship is unique and utilizes a strengths-based approach focused on resiliency to help clients achieve the best possible outcome. An integrative model allows her to look at the couple’s situation through many lenses and select the best intervention to help with their specific concern. She uses several models for both individuals and couples including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Gottman Method, Somatic techniques, Sensate Focused Techniques, and Psychoeducation. Lauren believes in a mind-body connection and frequently utilizes mindfulness techniques. Mindfulness techniques can be particularly helpful in sex therapy to bridge the gap between the physical sexual response and mental sexual response.

Lauren enjoys spending her free time with her wife and adoptive and foster children participating in community events, swimming, cooking, and exploring the city of Pittsburgh.

Lauren is a co-owner and therapist at Elements Counseling & Wellness Spa.