Lauren Wyatt, Ph.D.
Psychological Associate - Therapist in San Diego
Dr. Lauren Wyatt is a Psychological Associate in California practicing under the supervision of Dr. Jacob Ambrose (PSY34639). She works with adults, adolescents, and couples navigating trauma, complex trauma, relationship concerns, attachment patterns, anxiety, depression, grief, identity development, life transitions, self-esteem, burnout, and emotional overwhelm.
Clients who work with Dr. Wyatt can expect to be met with someone who is genuine, intentional, relational, and creative. She brings a sense of calm and ease into the therapy room while also allowing space for warmth, playfulness, and honest exploration. Her therapeutic presence is grounded, thoughtful, and deeply invested in the healing power of connection.
Dr. Wyatt believes that healing occurs through connection to ourselves, to others, and to the communities and cultures that shape us. She strives to create a therapeutic space where clients feel understood, supported, and empowered to explore both the challenges they are facing and the strengths they already bring into the room.
Her work is especially aligned with clients who are interested in understanding themselves more deeply, healing from painful experiences, improving their relationships, and moving toward lives that feel more authentic, connected, and meaningful.
You Might Be a Good Fit for Dr. Wyatt If You are…
• healing from trauma or complex trauma
• feeling stuck in relationship or attachment patterns
• navigating conflict, disconnection, or communication difficulties as a couple
• experiencing anxiety, depression, or emotional overwhelm
• grieving a loss or moving through a painful life transition
• exploring identity, belonging, or self-worth
• wanting to build more authentic and meaningful relationships
• looking for a therapist who values creativity, connection, and depth
Trauma, Complex Trauma, and Emotional Healing
Trauma can shape how people relate to themselves, others, and the world around them. Dr. Wyatt works with clients who are healing from trauma, complex trauma, and painful life experiences that may continue to influence their emotions, relationships, sense of safety, and self-worth. These experiences may show up as: • feeling emotionally overwhelmed or easily triggered • difficulty trusting others or feeling safe in relationships • feeling disconnected, numb, or shut down • a harsh inner critic or persistent self-blame • fear of vulnerability or relying on others • difficulty feeling grounded in the present Many clients are aware that past experiences are affecting them but feel unsure how to move forward. Dr. Wyatt helps clients explore these patterns with care, curiosity, and compassion. Her work supports clients in making sense of what happened, understanding how they adapted, and developing new ways of relating to themselves and others. Dr. Wyatt’s research background in trauma, complex PTSD, and resilience continues to inform her clinical work. She is also trained in EMDR and integrates trauma-informed approaches when appropriate to support healing, emotional processing, and greater self-understanding.
Relationships, Attachment, and Couples Therapy
Relationships are often where people experience both their deepest wounds and their greatest opportunities for healing. Dr. Wyatt works with individuals and couples who want to better understand the patterns that shape how they communicate, connect, protect themselves, and respond to conflict or distance. These concerns may show up as: • repeating the same relationship conflicts • difficulty communicating needs clearly • fear of abandonment or rejection • emotional shutdown or withdrawal • feeling disconnected from a partner • difficulty trusting, depending on, or being vulnerable with others Dr. Wyatt’s approach is grounded in the belief that connection is central to growth and healing. She helps clients explore how early experiences, attachment patterns, cultural identities, and relational dynamics may influence the way they show up in present-day relationships. For couples, Dr. Wyatt integrates attachment work and Gottman Method Couples Therapy when appropriate. Her work with couples often focuses on improving communication, deepening emotional understanding, repairing disconnection, and helping partners move toward more secure and meaningful connection.
Anxiety, Depression, Grief, and Life Transitions
Anxiety, depression, grief, and major life transitions can leave people feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, uncertain, or unsure how to move forward. Dr. Wyatt works with clients who are navigating painful seasons of life and looking for support, clarity, and a deeper understanding of themselves. These concerns may show up as: • chronic stress or emotional overwhelm • sadness, low motivation, or disconnection • difficulty adjusting to change • grief after a loss or major life shift • uncertainty about identity, direction, or belonging • feeling stuck between who you have been and who you are becoming Dr. Wyatt helps clients slow down and make sense of what they are experiencing. Her work supports clients in processing painful emotions, building self-compassion, strengthening identity, and reconnecting with what feels meaningful and life-giving. Therapy with Dr. Wyatt can be especially helpful for clients who want to move through life with greater authenticity, intention, and emotional connection.
Creativity in the Therapy Room
Because of her background in studio art, creativity naturally informs the way Dr. Wyatt practices therapy. When clients step into her office, they may notice small signs of creativity throughout the space, including art materials, painted rocks, and evidence of a therapist who values expression, imagination, and meaning-making. For Dr. Wyatt, creativity is about much more than making art. Sometimes creativity looks like helping a client see a familiar struggle from a new perspective. Sometimes it means finding language for experiences that have felt difficult to express. Other times, it may involve experiential or artistic interventions that allow clients to engage with emotions and experiences in a different way. Creativity can help clients access parts of themselves that words alone may not fully reach. It can also create space for play, reflection, emotional expression, and new ways of understanding old patterns. For Dr. Wyatt, art and creativity are ways of building connection, reaching across differences, and creating understanding in a world that often encourages isolation and disconnection.
Dr. Wyatt’s Approach to Therapy
Dr. Wyatt’s approach is grounded in Relational-Cultural Therapy, a framework that views relationships and connection as central to psychological growth and well-being. Relational-Cultural Therapy recognizes that people grow through and toward connection throughout the lifespan and that our relationships, cultural identities, and social environments profoundly influence how we understand ourselves and navigate the world. Through therapy, clients often begin to: • better understand longstanding patterns in their lives and relationships • develop greater self-compassion and self-acceptance • process painful experiences and losses • strengthen their sense of identity and belonging • cultivate healthier and more fulfilling relationships • move through life with greater authenticity and intention Dr. Wyatt believes that healing is about more than reducing symptoms. It is about helping people reconnect with themselves, others, and the parts of life that bring them meaning. As therapy progresses, clients often report a greater sense of clarity, self-worth, empowerment, productivity, and connection. Many clients also find themselves seeking out and cultivating more authentic, meaningful relationships in their personal lives and communities.
Professional Background
Dr. Wyatt earned her PhD in Counseling Psychology with a specialty emphasis in Children, Families, and Couples from the University of North Texas. She also holds a Master of Science in Psychology from the University of North Texas and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Women’s & Gender Studies with a minor in Studio Art from Santa Clara University. Her clinical training includes work in university counseling centers, community mental health settings, and private practice. She has experience providing therapy to children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families with concerns related to trauma, grief, relationships, anxiety, depression, identity development, and major life transitions. Dr. Wyatt is trained in EMDR, Gottman Method Couples Therapy, and attachment work. She integrates these approaches when appropriate based on each client’s needs, goals, and therapeutic process. Her research has focused on trauma, complex PTSD, and resilience, which continues to shape the way she understands healing, connection, and psychological growth.
Working with Dr. Wyatt
Dr. Wyatt works with clients who are interested in understanding themselves more deeply and creating meaningful, lasting change in how they experience their lives, relationships, and sense of self.
Many clients appreciate her genuine, grounded, creative, and relational approach, as well as her ability to help them make sense of patterns that may have previously felt confusing, painful, or overwhelming.
Dr. Wyatt may be a good fit for clients seeking support with trauma, complex trauma, relationship concerns, couples therapy, attachment patterns, anxiety, depression, grief, identity development, life transitions, self-esteem, burnout, or emotional overwhelm.
If you are interested in working with Dr. Wyatt, our intake coordinator can help determine whether her approach may be a good fit for your goals.
To get started, fill out the contact form below, and our team will help guide you through the next steps.