Lauren J. Nelson- Owner- Ed.S, LPES, LPC
Lauren is a longstanding School Psychologist, Licensed Psychoeducational Specialist and Licensed Professional Counselor in South Carolina who enjoys every moment of helping others unlock the high-performing futures they deserve. As a specialist who worked directly with students and families in the educational setting for 13 years, she holds extensive expertise involving psychoeducational evaluations, psychological assessments, and leading individual and group therapies for children, teens, and adults. Even more, she enjoys helping others to recognize their innate worth, find balance, and feel confident as they shift from merely surviving to genuinely living.
Native to Northwest Ohio, Lauren learned early on that the mental health field was her passion. She was raised by a mother who worked in special education, and witnessed her younger sister struggle with significant mental health from a young age. These experiences inspired her to attain a BS in Psychology from The University of Southern Indiana along with a Masters of Science and an Education Specialists degree in School Psychology from The Citadel. Since then, Lauren has worked in the multiple public school systems, including South Carolina and Virginia, as well as with the Department of Defense Education Activity in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Wiesbaden, Germany. During this time, she worked with individuals with various underlying mental health conditions. Some of the more notable ones include ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, learning disabilities, anxiety, depression, oppositional defiant disorder, and gender dysmorphia. In 2022 Lauren obtained LPES and LPC licensures and began providing psychological assessment and individual therapy for adolescents and adults in the private sector in South Carolina. In 2024, she permanently relocated to Beaufort and continues to provide in-person and virtual services serving the citizens of Beaufort and the surrounding communities.
Cassie Ingram- Practice Manager
Cassie serves as the Practice Manager for Beaufort Psychological Services, where she oversees the daily operations of the practice and helps ensure a supportive, organized, and client-centered experience for every family who walks through the door. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Psychology and brings extensive management and administrative experience, along with strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills, to her role.
Cassie works closely with clients and providers to coordinate scheduling, onboarding, insurance communication, and practice operations while helping families feel informed and supported throughout the process. Known for her compassionate and community-centered approach, she is also actively involved in the Lowcountry community and proudly serves on the Board of Directors for HELP of Beaufort.
She is passionate about creating a welcoming environment where individuals and families feel cared for, connected, and supported as they access mental health services.
Kemberly (Kemi) Strain- LPC-A, NBCC, NCSC, MS, MS Educators License
Kemberly “Kemi” Strain is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate, National Board Certified Counselor, and National Certified School Counselor with more than 20 years of experience supporting children, adolescents, and families. Throughout her career in both educational and counseling settings, she has remained deeply committed to helping individuals navigate life’s challenges while building confidence, resilience, and healthy emotional connections. Kemi believes that meaningful growth begins with feeling understood, supported, and empowered, and she strives to create a compassionate and collaborative environment where clients can thrive.
As an experienced counselor and educator, Kemi brings extensive expertise in working with children and teens experiencing anxiety, ADHD, social and communication difficulties, behavioral concerns, and family or parenting challenges. Her professional background also includes certifications in School Counseling, School Psychology, Vocational Counseling, Mild to Moderate Special Education, and Career Level Administration. This broad range of experience allows her to approach each client holistically while recognizing the important connection between emotional well-being, academic success, family dynamics, and personal development.
Kemi’s passion for helping others has guided her work for decades, and she values building strong relationships with both clients and families. Her therapeutic style is warm, encouraging, and practical, focusing on helping individuals recognize their strengths while developing the tools needed to successfully navigate everyday life. She is dedicated to helping children, teens, and families move beyond simply managing challenges and toward creating healthier, more balanced, and fulfilling lives.
Lauren Cox- LPC
Lauren Cox is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate dedicated to helping children, adolescents, and adults navigate life’s challenges with compassion, understanding, and practical support. With a strong background in psychology, counseling, and community-based services, Lauren believes in creating a safe and supportive environment where clients feel heard, valued, and empowered to grow. Her therapeutic approach is collaborative and client-centered, focusing on helping individuals build confidence, strengthen coping skills, and achieve meaningful personal goals.
Lauren earned her Bachelor of Science degrees in Psychology and Sociology from Charleston Southern University before completing her Master of Science in Clinical Counseling at Charleston Southern University. Throughout her education and professional training, she developed a passion for supporting individuals experiencing emotional, behavioral, and life-transition difficulties. Her experience working with diverse populations has strengthened her ability to connect with clients from a variety of backgrounds and life experiences.
In addition to her counseling background, Lauren has experience in case management, intake coordination, psychological services administration, and working with vulnerable populations. She has previously worked with juveniles through the Department of Juvenile Justice, assisted individuals living with Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia, and supported psychological testing services in clinical settings. These experiences have helped shape her empathetic, organized, and solution-focused approach to therapy.
Lauren is passionate about helping clients recognize their strengths, overcome obstacles, and move toward healthier, more balanced lives. She is committed to fostering a welcoming and encouraging therapeutic relationship where individuals and families feel supported every step of the way.
Catherine Westbrook
Catherine is an experienced dyslexia therapist and advocate with 20 years of service as an Orton Gillingham tutor. Her education includes a BS in Business from the College of Charleston and partial work toward an M. Ed. in Guidance and Counseling through the University of SC. Catherine completed Associate and Certified level coursework through the Orton Gillingham Academy, with additional advanced coursework in writing technique and written expression. With many years of teaching experience at a Greenville, SC-based private school (specializing in dyslexia), she has a breadth of knowledge in working with both elementary and middle school students; additionally, she’s had the privilege of working with many public school students her most recent role as an Outreach tutor. Catherine’s deep interest and commitment to this field stems from her own family; one of her sons exhibited signs of dyslexia from a young age. She is passionate about helping children and individuals enhance their skills and discover their abilities through engaging, effective, and comprehensive lessons. Addressing the challenges and gifts of dyslexia is pivotal to the important work of building confidence – not only in skills, but more importantly, in self.
Support offered:
- Direct, multi-sensory, structured approach to reading, spelling, and writing
- Use of evidence-based instruction
- 50 minute sessions
- Writing support: sentence development, sentence syntax, paragraph & essay writing
- Reading comprehension support
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Caitlin Johnson- Group Workshop Instructor
Our
Mission
Our aim goes beyond individual well-being; we want to contribute and be part of a community where professional mental health treatment is available and valued for all. We believe in combining the diagnostic precision of assessments with the therapeutic spirit of counseling to promote collective resilience. Whether you need brief or long-term support, our aim is to provide holistic, compassionate care tailored to your unique needs.
