Lauren Nelson
Pioneering Psychological Care
story by MICAH PEPPERS photos by PAUL NURNBERG
As Lauren Nelson, a professional therapist and psychoeducational specialist, approaches the first anniversary of her mental and behavioral health practice, Beaufort Psychological Services, we want to follow up with her to learn more about the services she provides, as well as what she thinks about living and working in Beaufort.
In November 2024, Beaufort Lifestyle spoke with Lauren about the type of business she was bringing to the Lowcountry. In 2023, her family’s time in Germany was coming to an end. Lauren and her husband knew they wanted to return to Beaufort, so while still overseas, Lauren established her LLC and shares how her business came to be from thousands of miles away. “At that time, I was working as a school psychologist for the Department of Defense, but knew I wanted to move in a different direction. I didn’t want to just work in the school system. I wanted to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and start my own business.”
In July of last year, Lauren went all in and established her in-person office. Her husband, Pete, arrived in Beaufort ahead of the rest of the family and used this time to search for locations. He found office space at One Beaufort Town Center, located above Moe’s, which is perfect. “I immediately joined the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club; my grand opening was on July 1, 2024.” My desire is to support the citizens of Beaufort. I discovered that mental health services here are limited. In fact, I’ve not discovered any locations North of the Broad that offer the combination of services I am able to provide. There are a few options in Bluffton and Okatie, but I want to prioritize the Beaufort community.”
Lauren is a bit of a hybrid professional. Multiple facets of Beaufort Psychological Services make her practice unique and are designed to assist families throughout the Lowcountry. Lauren is both a professional therapist as well as a psychoeducational specialist. “There are two sides to my practice. On one side, I provide therapeutic services. I offer therapy for children, adolescents, and adults. There’s no age limit. It’s not the typical talk therapy that some clients may find. I am solution-focused and concentrate on multiple therapeutic techniques.” Lauren continues by explaining her other specialty, “I conduct comprehensive evaluations for children, adolescents, and adults to better understand their psychological and educational needs. Psychological evaluations focus on assessing emotional, behavioral, and mental health concerns, such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and mood disorders. Psychoeducational evaluations, on the other hand, are designed to assess learning and cognitive abilities, helping to identify any factors that may impact educational performance.”
Lauren also provides support to family members who may be struggling. Often, when there is a concern with a child, the family may not know exactly which route to take, or what the issue could be; this is where Lauren’s expertise helps the family pinpoint the challenges that are holding the child back. “Sometimes too much information is exactly that, too much information. A child may be struggling, or they’ve received a referral from the school, or perhaps a teacher has noticed some concerning patterns and is recommending outside treatment. The parents may search online, but still can’t determine exactly what’s going on, so when they see me and receive an evaluation, I can then help point them in the right direction. I can then determine what it is that’s preventing the child from learning at the same pace as his or her peers. I offer flexibility for what is needed. I have many clients who see me for an evaluation but stay with me for therapy. Often times the two work hand in hand.”
Lauren’s passion is what drives home the importance of what she does for so many families in Beaufort County. “I love the evaluations. I like providing clarity to families and seeing the ‘aha’ moment. It’s important to not only understand what is happening, but why, and what that means as far as a specific treatment plan. They learn to leverage their weaknesses with their strengths. I can help them conceptualize something that for a long time felt abstract, and now they can grab onto it and get the answers needed to make informed decisions.”
Lauren doesn’t just live at her One Beaufort Town Center office. She can be found throughout the Lowcountry, engaging in community events. After moving to Beaufort, she was invited to join the Rotary Club of Beaufort and became an official member in October. “I have learned more about Beaufort in these last few months than if I had lived here for ten years. I learn about what’s happening around the city not only as a resident, but as a small business owner as well. It gives me an outlet.” Lauren also joined the Beaufort Chamber of Commerce. “The Chamber has been nothing short of fantastic. I discovered while I was opening my own practice that I felt confident in my skills, but I had limited experience in what it takes to manage a successful business. Without the support of the Chamber on items like insurance, malpractice, how to file taxes, and other similar things, I would have been lost. The Chamber members have been so supportive of me that I hope to be able to give back to them in return.”
Lauren understands that her unique services would be welcome anywhere in the country, but she and her family followed their hearts, and it led them to this beautiful small town on the East Coast. “My husband is originally from Beaufort. No matter where in the world we were living, we would always come back to visit. When the time came for him to retire, there was no real discussion about where we wanted to live. Beaufort is just so comfortable. It’s a small town with modern amenities, and I like feeling connected to the community. You’re not just another person or number. You’re someone here. The locals are so friendly, and that’s often cliché to say about those in the South, but it’s true here. Everyone is genuine and so supportive. I’ve never been able to plant roots and knowing that is what we are doing here while helping those with mental health or emotional challenges is the most important thing.”
To learn more about Lauren’s Beaufort Psychological Services, visit beaufortpsychologicalservices.com or call 803-575-9782.
