Dr. Lauren Chase (She/Her)

My work focuses on the intersection of anxiety, boundaries, and family-of-origin patterns. Many of the women I work with appear successful and capable on the outside. They are often the person everyone relies on at work, in their families, and in their relationships. Yet inside they may feel stretched thin, anxious, and quietly exhausted from carrying so much responsibility for so long. For many high-achieving women, these patterns began early. Growing up with an emotionally immature parent often meant learning to manage other people’s emotions before understanding your own. You may have become the responsible one, the achiever, or the person who kept the peace. These adaptations helped you succeed in many areas of life. At the same time, they can follow you into adulthood as people-pleasing, over-functioning in relationships, difficulty saying no, and a constant feeling that you should be doing more. Many of my clients say something similar when they first arrive in therapy. Their life looks good on paper, yet internally they feel overwhelmed. They may feel guilty when they try to set boundaries, anxious about disappointing others, or responsible for keeping relationships stable even when it costs them their own energy. Over time this can lead to a deep sense of exhaustion and self-doubt. In our work together, we begin by connecting the dots between your current stress and the early experiences that shaped how you learned to relate to others. Many women feel relief when they realize that their anxiety and boundary struggles are not random flaws or personal failures. They are understandable adaptations that developed in response to environments where emotional needs were not always met. Therapy becomes a place where you can slow down and step out of the pressure to constantly hold everything together. Together we explore why certain patterns feel so difficult to change and why guilt often appears when you begin prioritizing your own needs. Rather than focusing only on boundary scripts, we work through the deeper emotional patterns that make boundaries difficult to maintain. Many high-achieving women carry a strong sense of responsibility for other people’s emotions. When you begin to shift these patterns, it can feel unfamiliar at first. You may worry about disappointing others or changing long-standing family dynamics. In therapy, we make space for these concerns while helping you build the confidence to create relationships that feel healthier and more balanced. An important part of this work involves helping your mind and body feel steadier. When someone has spent years anticipating other people’s reactions or trying to prevent conflict, the nervous system can remain in a constant state of alertness. Together, we focus on reducing anxiety, strengthening self-trust, and helping you feel more grounded in your decisions. Over time, many clients notice meaningful changes. Boundaries begin to feel clearer and easier to maintain. Relationships become more reciprocal instead of draining. Decisions start to come from personal values rather than guilt or pressure. Perhaps most importantly, many women reconnect with parts of themselves that were pushed aside while focusing on everyone else. My approach to therapy is supportive, conversational, and grounded in evidence-based practices. I integrate person-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, EMDR, and trauma-informed approaches to help clients understand both the emotional and behavioral patterns shaping their lives. This work helps move therapy beyond surface-level coping skills and toward deeper, lasting change. I’m Dr. Lauren Chase, a licensed clinical mental health counselor and the founder of Climbing Hills Counseling. I specialize in working with high-achieving women who struggle with anxiety, people-pleasing, and boundary challenges rooted in emotionally immature family dynamics. Through virtual counseling, I support clients across North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Idaho. If you are successful on the outside but feel exhausted from constantly managing everyone else, therapy can be a place where you finally begin focusing on yourself. If you are ready to understand the patterns that keep showing up in your life and start building relationships that feel more balanced and sustainable, I invite you to reach out and schedule a consultation.