Vitality Professional Counseling, LLC

28/02/2025

This Viktor Frankl quote is one I go back to with great frequency… We can’t control much externally, but we can choose how we respond. 💜

Where can you build in a space between something that happens and your response?

31/01/2025

Knowing our ever-changing capacity demands self awareness and frequent check-ins. Saying “no” is tough, especially to what we want to do, often bringing guilt or grief. Yet, it’s essential for well-being, ensuring we say “yes” to what truly enriches our lives.

18/01/2025

I’m pleased to introduce Jana Leeper! Jana is an LPC Associate under my supervision. She works with adults and older teens, is EMDR trained, and has extensive experience in higher education. She sees clients at in Plano.

12/01/2025

Living losses evoke complicated grief processes. Dr. Sandy Stillo of Stillo Counseling + Consulting, PLLC is offering a free support group for those grieving living losses on Fridays. Sandy is an incredible therapist with a lot of experience in grief work. If you feel you could benefit from this group, I hope you check it out. 💜

This group is for anyone who feels a loss related to a significant life event. This group will be addressing losses that are often unrecognized by society and are therefore not acknowledged as grief experiences. If you aren’t sure if this group is for you, give us a call and we will be happy to listen to your story and help you decide.
There is no fee for this group. You may attend as many sessions as you wish.

27/12/2024

A little time can reap big rewards. 💜

20/12/2024

For anyone needing a reminder, I’ll just leave this here…

22/11/2024

Thank you for the chance to share some of my story. 💜 I talk about what led me to the counseling field and the evolution of my practice. Asking questions + being open to receiving help have continued to be important themes in my life… I hope some of what I share might resonate with you. ☺️



https://voyagedallas.com/interview/life-work-with-lauren-gastorf-of-mckinney

07/05/2024

Attention and respect are not one and the same. As good as receiving attention might feel, the effects without demonstrated respect are short-lived and negative for our wellbeing.

Some examples of attention w/o respect:

A. A person you are dating sporadically showers you with compliments + gifts (attention), but also more often than not cancels plans, does not respond to you when you reach out, and is inconsistent with words and actions (lack of respect).
B. Your boss heavily recruited you for your position + verbally praises your performance privately + frequently asks you to help with last minute projects because “you are the only one trusted to get the job done right” (attention) while simultaneously does not compensate you commensurate with your experience + you have found out on several occasions has thrown you under the bus in meetings you were not a part of (lack of respect).
C. A family member frequently brags about you on social media for good deeds you do for her (attention) and frequently asks you last-minute for help + guilts you into doing things + never returns the favor (lack of respect).

Ways we can reconcile the roles of attention and respect in our lives:
1. Ask yourself what respect looks like… How do you demonstrate respect? When do you feel respected? What’s most important to you when it comes to respect?
2. Reflect on the importance of receiving attention in your life. What do you believe about yourself when you receive attention? What forms of attention do you prefer? How far back does this go? Do you participate in attention-seeking behaviors?
3. Recognize behaviors for what they actually are, rather than what you want them to be. If you find yourself accepting attention at the expense of respect, this is a trailhead to explore in your life.

Practicing respect for ourselves and others is essential to your health. 💜

17/04/2024

Boundaries are vital to our well-being and relationships! Emotional, physical, time, intellectual, sexual, and material are types of boundaries identified in Nedra Glover Tawwab’s “Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself.”

Take a boundaries inventory… How would you benefit from identifying and strengthening your boundaries in any of these areas?

05/03/2024

If you’re looking for a Texas LPC Supervisor, I’d love to support you in this next part of your journey as a counselor. Please email me if you’re interested in learning more about working together.

Lauren@vitalityprocounseling.com

01/02/2024

Stress is inevitable but we can do things to minimize stress + help our bodies and minds be more adaptable to stressors. 💜

26/04/2023

Healing from an unhealthy relationship requires community. This group serves to empower women recovering from unhealthy relationships. Facilitated by two trauma-informed psychotherapists, we explore healing through a Polyvagal lens, focusing on nervous system repair. Each session includes psychoeducation, somatic exercises, resources to take home, and a safe space to connect with other women who can relate to your experiences. We begin May 25th and meet every other Thursday evening through August 3rd. We hope you join us.

Join us for a transformational 6 session group workshop focusing on recovering from unhealthy relationships and moving forward in your life in an empowered way. Facilitated by two trauma-informed psychotherapists, Lauren Gastorf, M.Ed., LPC-S and Julie, Tillerson, M.A., LPC, you will be uniquely sup