About Me
Lauren Raney, LCPC, ATR
Owner & Art Therapist
I am a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) and a Registered Art Therapist (ATR). I specialize in supporting individuals through art therapy as they navigate grief and loss, anxiety, and depression. My approach is compassionate and tailored to each person’s unique journey, using creative expression as a powerful tool for healing and self-discovery.
For the past eight years, I have had the privilege of supporting children and families through grief. From 2019 to 2024, I served as the Program Director at Willow House, where I oversaw grief support programs, including support groups and educational initiatives within communities and schools.
My experience also includes working as a Bereavement Counselor and Children's Grief Coordinator at JourneyCare Hospice, providing compassionate support to individuals coping with loss. Additionally, as an Art Therapist at AMITA Health Behavioral Medicine Institute Children's Center Chicago, I worked with children and teens in an inpatient behavioral health setting, using creative expression as a pathway to healing.
My Thoughts on Grief Support
I believe that grief is a universal experience, affecting individuals of all ages—from young children to older adults. You are the expert of your own grief journey, and my role is to walk alongside you as a compassionate companion. While grief cannot simply be erased, I am here to hold space for whatever arises in our sessions, whether through conversation or creative expression.
Grief ebbs and flows, and all emotions are welcome here. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. Support can take many forms, including exploring your personal experience of grief, gaining a deeper understanding of its impact, and finding meaningful ways to express and navigate it.
Presentations
2024
National Alliance for Children’s Grief (NACG) Annual National Symposium on Utilizing the Expressive Therapies Continuum for Continuing Bonds with Grieving Families, Denver, CO
Highmark Caring Place | 2024 National Grief Talks Conference “Grief interrupted: Creating space for all experiences of loss!” on Empowering Caregivers of Grieving Children: How to Apply Expressive Art Tools Used by Professionals
2022
National Alliance for Children’s Grief (NACG) Annual National Symposium on Empowering Caregivers of Grieving Children: How to Apply Expressive Art Tools Used by Professionals, Orlando, FL
Illinois Mental Health Counselors Association Annual Conference on Expressing Grief Through Art Making
Professional Speaking
ABC7
2021 - Speaking about the importance of art therapy on ABC7 during Expressive Arts Therapy Week during my time as Program Director at Willow House.
WGN
2020 - Speaking about the importance of expressing one’s grief and benefits of art therapy on WGN during my time as Program Director at Willow House.
