Laura Azoni, LMSW is the Clinical Director + Founder of Sanctuary Services. Her role includes managing various aspects of the trauma-focused company, including: direct trauma therapy and intensives, organizational crisis response, the It’s Kinda Heavy podcast, scholarship funds through a long-standing partnership with Abide Ministries, speaking and training engagements, and soon-to-be released resources for professionals. Laura has a demonstrated history of serving individuals, families, professionals, and communities through quality mental, social, and emotional care, having specialized in trauma-informed practice for over 15 years. With national certifications in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (S.A.F.E. aka Somatic and Attachment Focused EMDR) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Laura is also trained in Attachment, Regulation, and Competency (ARC), is a Trauma + Resiliency Specialist in Education, and has experience with mass violence incident (MVI) recovery and response.
What People Are Saying
"For many years, I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of Laura's 'treatment community,’ and witnessing through our conversations her compassion and understanding of the impact of adversity and trauma on the lives of those she serves. Laura's skillful use of the most effective trauma treatments, including TF-CBT, is matched and strengthened by her creativity and genuine enthusiasm to help children and their families heal and grow.”
Connie Black-Pond, MA, LMSW, LPC, Co-founder and retired Clinical Director of the Southwest Michigan Children’s Trauma Assessment Center, TF-CBT Developer Trained Supervisor
“Being a foster parent can be a scary thing, but it can be so much scarier for the foster child. Having someone help my foster children find their voice in this process was an amazing gift. Laura Azoni was that person for us! She taught them age appropriate coping mechanisms. She helped me understand their emotional needs when I couldn’t figure out what brought on certain behaviors, and in the end, she helped each of us prepare for the loss and hope that is reunification. I would highly recommend Laura to anyone looking for counseling from someone that cares about our kids as much as we do!”
Previous client
“We have worked with Laura [intermittently, as needed] over the past six years to help our adopted son process trauma and promote attachment and healing. Laura established a relationship built on trust. I appreciated her ability to work with our family as a whole to create stronger relationships and understanding. She provided excellent resources and had great clinical insight to help us work through some of the issues we encountered. I would highly recommend her to anyone seeking a therapist with a strong background in trauma therapy.”
Previous Client
“Laura is a skilled, graceful, and respectful practitioner. She is not afraid to engage in hard things to help others move to good solutions. She is also a creative problem solver. Laura will be an asset wherever she chooses to operate.”
Mary Vail Ware, Senior Director, Justice and Victim Services, Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center (OVC TTAC)
“Laura’s passion is children and families. She is dedicated to providing the best interventions available to support the well being of children and families. Knowing Laura for the past [fourteen] years, I have been tremendously impressed with her commitment to learn and implement evidence based and evidence supported interventions that provide the best opportunities for children to heal from trauma and adversity. I highly recommend Laura as a clinician, because you can be assured that she is a healer, utilizing the most effective interventions to help children and families reach their human and familial potential.”
James Henry, PhD, Co-founder and Project Director at the Southwest Michigan Children’s Trauma Assessment Center & Social Work Professor