We had the good fortune of connecting with Lauren Scott and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren, what principle do you value most?
I deeply believe in living a pleasurable life in the present. I have spent so much time being stressed and feeling anxious about the future and feeling deep shame about my identity that I put so much energy on a perfect future. Over time, the weight of the pressure I put on having a rich future and being a perfect person, eroded my self-confidence and belief in myself. Eventually, I was so depressed and stressed from chasing being wealthy and confident in the future and being out of alignment with myself, that everything crumbled. My business crumbled around me, I felt burn-out exhausted and was emotionally and financially in debt. It was pretty bleak to look around me and realize that I had spent so much time trying to live someone else’s life and I was missing my own. So I gently and slowly came back to the present, back to who I really am, what I really want, and what joys and pleasures I have now in my life. What I truly want is a lot simpler than I realized. Sure, I still like some luxury items, I like fresh flowers on my desk and some of my subscription services, but I actually feel them now. I allow myself to slow down to experience that things I have and feel grateful instead of addicted to wanting more and more and more.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I support people who are healing from traumatic experiences by reconnecting to their body’s natural intelligence and capacity for healing in therapy. I also support clients in reconnecting to their pleasure and sexuality through coaching. I enjoy supporting clients through reconnecting to nature and their emotions and body sensations to experience greater aliveness and power in their bodies. I love being able to be in the flow of what is happening in the moment with clients. It feels like a deep connection that goes beyond words and witnessing the experience of being with my clients rather than trying to make something happen or fix them. I have gotten to where I am through a lot of trial and error. I have a history of deep shame around my sexuality and my identity and I have worked on my healing for years. I have had the opportunity to spend time and resources on my healing journey and experience deep transformations in how I see myself and the world around me. I enjoy bringing all of my wisdom and experience into the work I do and supporting clients on their individual and unique journeys. The biggest lesson I have learned is that we can’t force healing. Healing happens in its own time and there is nothing wrong with anyone. We don’t have to blame ourselves and judge ourselves into being better. Most healing is unlearning patterns that we adopted at some point to keep us safe that is no longer serving us. And we can heal with gentleness and pleasure. What I want the world to know is that you are capable of experiencing more pleasure! No matter who you are or where you come from, you can have a pleasurable life.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
1. We would get biscuits from the Denver Biscuit Company on Broadway. 2. We would go to Silverthorne and hike one of my favorite trails near Henney, CO. 3. We would go roller skating at Wash Park or Cornerstone Park in Littleton. 4. We would get cocktails from the Green Russell. 5. Hang out at the Milk Market. 6. Visit the Museum for Black Girls. 7. Take a dance class at EVQ Dance Studio. 8. Grab a drink at Room for Milly. 9. Walk around Rino and look at the street art. 10. Sit on my favorite rock at Lair of the Bear in Morrison.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to shoutout Rossina Schroeer-Santiago and the work she is doing with Element of Discovery and the Therapists of Color Collaborative. She has been a huge support to me in my therapy practice, support other therapists of color to build businesses and making a difference in our community. She has definitely been a pioneer in what is possible when you work together toward a beautiful mission and vision.

Website: www.gracespringscounseling.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurenhscott

Other: Coaching website: www.havenwholeness.com

Image Credits
Jes Kimak Photography; Michiel de Kock Photography

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.