Weaving Connection, Embodiment, and Evidence-Based Practice

Laurie Schlosser lives at an intersection that might seem unusual at first – licensed psychologist running a group practice, yoga instructor with her own studio, world traveler seeking yoga experiences across cultures. But talk to her for five minutes and you’ll understand how these pieces weave together into a practice built on connection, embodiment, and meeting people exactly where they are.

Finding the Missing Piece

With over 25 years in mental health, Laurie had already built a meaningful career. A decade working with children who’d experienced significant developmental trauma taught her about resilience in its rawest form. Her work evolved to include children and teens struggling with anxiety, depression, complex family dynamics, and autism.

She was helping people. She was good at her work. But something shifted during the pandemic.

“I discovered Kimberly and Elizabeth’s training on evidence-based treatment for anxiety and OCD – CBT for Anxiety and OCD – and it completely changed how I practice and what I wanted to specialize in,” Laurie shares. “Their clear, brain-based approach helped me see anxiety in a new way and gave me the tools to help clients make meaningful and sustainable change.”

That training became a doorway into something larger.

Building Momentum Through Community

Laurie joined the Anxiety Training Community and discovered it wasn’t just a place to stay connected – it became her infrastructure for ongoing growth.

“I dove into the community’s focused trainings and case consultations to continue developing my skills, and it truly rejuvenated my passion for my work as a therapist,” Laurie shares. Through the Lunch and Learns, she found herself learning directly from leaders in the anxiety and OCD field – Carl Robbins, Sally Winston, Ken Goodman, and others whose work she’d only read in journals before.

The structure gave her exactly what she needed when she needed it. Micro courses let her deepen expertise in specific areas on her own timeline. Case consultations provided real-time support when she encountered challenging clinical moments. The library of materials meant she always had resources when a client’s needs pushed her to expand her skills.

What surprised her most was the accessibility. The community peer space became a place where she could ask questions, share challenges, and learn from colleagues navigating similar clinical situations – and both Kimberly and Elizabeth remain actively engaged there, offering guidance and perspective. It’s not a “take the training, and you’re on your own” model.

“I met wonderful colleagues, joined therapy book study groups, and developed a stronger sense of connection to the therapy community,” she says. “This has been more than just a training for me.”

When Hard Work Makes Things Worse

The concept that transformed Laurie’s clinical approach? Understanding what feeds anxiety versus what starves it.

“Many clients have been working incredibly hard to manage their anxiety but, without realizing it, have been reinforcing it instead,” she explains. “Once we go over the brain education piece, they begin to understand the why behind facing their fears and reducing avoidance. That understanding often brings motivation to engage in the hard work to recover.”

It’s a pattern she sees regularly: “I have a lot of clients who tell me they weren’t making progress after years of therapy, and this structured, evidence-based approach feels very different for them.”

Expanding Worlds Again

Laurie has developed a particular focus on emetophobia – the fear of vomiting – because there are so few providers in her area trained to treat it effectively. It might sound niche, but for people living with emetophobia, it’s anything but small.

“Emetophobia can become incredibly debilitating—it can affect what people eat, how they socialize, and which activities to engage in. Over time, it can shrink a person’s world and limit their sense of freedom,” Laurie says. “I want to help individuals expand their worlds again and make choices based on their values, desires and interests, rather than their fears.”

Her most rewarding work? Children and teens whose OCD has just begun to emerge. “I often see a quick and encouraging response to ERP, especially when parents are also engaged in the SPACE program. My hope is that early intervention can truly change the course for these kids and help them move toward a life less impacted by OCD.”

What She’d Tell Other Clinicians

Ask Laurie what she’d tell another therapist considering this path, and her answer is immediate:

“This training not only gives you the knowledge and tools to help your clients more effectively, but connects you with a supportive community – a safe place to learn, grow, and continue developing as a clinician.”

She’s quick to clarify what that actually means in practice: ongoing focused trainings, case consultations with peers facing similar challenges, direct access to field leaders through Lunch and Learns, a library of micro courses and materials you can tap into as your practice evolves, and an active community peer space where both Kimberly and Elizabeth continue to show up and support members’ growth.

“I always encourage other therapists to take Kimberly and Elizabeth’s training,” she says. “Seeing how much progress clients can make once they understand how anxiety works in the brain, and learning to ride the wave of anxiety while facing their fears, really changed the way I practice. I want more people with anxiety and OCD to have access to approaches that can help reduce their suffering.”

And for Laurie, the community has been essential to making that happen – both for her own continued growth and for connecting her clients to evidence-based care that actually works.

It comes back to watching clients change their relationship with anxiety and “gain confidence to make choices in their lives based on what matters to them, rather than their anxiety.”

That’s the world she’s working to expand – one client, one clinician, one community connection at a time.

Connect with Laurie: www.ncewellness.com