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About

Hi, I’m Laury.

I create healing spaces of authentic connection to support creative souls in living their lives more fully, and more freely.

When words fall short of conveying the depth of living with your unique neuro-complexity, my relational approach offers creative and compassionate pathways to liberation and healing. My practice invites radical permission and spaciousness so you can be witnessed, held, and accepted in the full complexity of who you are.

Laury Monk standing calmly against a warm yellow wall, hands gently clasped, looking at the camera

My story

I too walk this path.

These days, darkness is all around us and being reflected back to us through these small handheld black mirrors. It’s an awfully isolating time to be growing up in this world. We are inundated with information, but left to our own devices.

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After discovering my neurodivergence in grad school, I was left feeling so very lost. 8 years in the field of psychology, and 10+ years of my own expressive arts therapy, brought me to the edge of what I knew about who I am. So much brought me here to work within community. I know how hard the fight to heal can be, and I’ve been along all ends of it. I felt the waves of change that arose from the permission and trust built within therapeutic relationship, and I’ve watched that change ripple out. I’ve experienced those shifts through my own body and heart. Through relational, play- and expressive-arts-based work, I’ve seen how much can change when there’s real permission and trust.

In between sessions, I would scribble with paint pens and ask myself: what would it feel like to do something “badly” without needing it to be labeled “good”? What if I could create without chasing perfection in my own eyes or anyone else’s? With art and play, alongside my clients, I discovered an incredible capacity to transform experiences of suffering into curiosity, connection, and change.

Sound familiar? Start with a free 30-min call.

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NeurodivergentNeuro-complexADHDAutisticAuDHD

Beyond pathology, beyond words: toward embracing the creative freedom of our unique neuro-complexity.

I know the way neurodivergent people experience, process and relate in the world doesn’t make us anything or anyone less. And now, there are some words with some letters that mean something, to me and my clients and my community. Neurodivergent, Neuro-complex, ADHD, Autistic, AuDHD. Why is this important? Because finally, it says nothing is wrong with us. We are unique. Our differences are not deficits.

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I bring lived experience along with my clinical expertise into therapy with fellow neurodivergent adults and teens who may be worn out from trying so incredibly hard to relate what it’s like to be them.

My approach to therapy does not require reopening relational wounds in order to heal them. I found the art of play to meet words, where language falls short. A pained stroke across the page is felt. Pencil in hand, scribbling with regulating rhythms. And without being told or directed, our bodies know what to do. It’s what happens when we build trust with ourselves in relationship with someone who trusts in us that deep healing can occur.

Where creative messes are allowed to be made. Where we can make mistakes, and still be held with compassion. Where we can begin to live our dreams in color, to become curious and creative once again.

See how we’d work together
Laury Monk smiling with her arms stretched open along a red booth, a single red flower on the table in front of her

Training

Lived—and—listened—to experience.

I am trained and always expanding my training in relational, play- and expressive-arts-based, mindfulness-based, depth, and trauma-focused orientations.

As a late-diagnosed AuDHD therapist, my work is deeply informed by lived—and—listened—to experience.

Education

Santa Clara University: M.A. Counseling Psychology (MFT emphasis)

University of California, Santa Cruz: B.A. Psychology (developmental focus)

License & supervision

California Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT #158568)

ExP THERAPY® neurodiversity-affirming supervision (ongoing): Lori Crowley, MA, LMFT, LPCC

CAMFT member

Training

Expressive Arts and Sensory Processing as Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices (ongoing): Trauma-Informed Practices & Expressive Arts Therapy Institute

Neurodiversity Training: Adapting Therapy for Neurodivergent Children & Young People: The Neurodiversity Practice

Child-Centered Play Therapy Training and Curriculum Development: Play Strong Institute, Dr. Georgie Wisen-Vincent, PhD, LMFT, RPT-S

Art therapy supervision and training (ongoing): Jana Emerson, MA, LMFT, ATR; Polly Miskiewicz, MA, HCPC, BAAT reg. Creative Therapist

Relational Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Training: Dr. Teri Quatman (SCU)

Black-and-white photo of Laury smiling playfully, hand at her chin, beside a weathered wall painted with the word SMILE

Ready when you are.

A free 30-minute consult. No prep needed.

Let’s TalkText (408) 413-4395