Meet Our Team - Laurel Sherer
Laurel Sherer, LCSW, BCBA
Position at the Hallowell Todaro ADHD Center:
Senior Therapist- Virtually and in the new Berkeley office
How long have you been working at Hallowell Todaro ADHD?
This is my first month (October 2023)!
Where did you grow up?
Arcata, CA (which is on the coast, close to the Oregon border)
What are your favorite books / TV shows / movies?
I love reading and listening to Audible. Favorite books include Where the Crawdads Sing (Delia Owens), The Book of Two Ways (Jodi Picoult), and The Signature of All Things (Elizabeth Gilbert). Favorite TV show in awhile: White Lotus
What’s your favorite sport and/or sports team?
The Warriors
Complete the following sentences:
When I’m not at work, you can find me...
taking hikes, exploring new areas, getting together with friends, cooking, and relaxing at home with my partner and pets.
When I want to de-stress, I...
do yoga, have a nice dinner, and watch a show.
My favorite time of year is...
summer. I love camping, going to swimming holes, and the long days.
My favorite thing to cook is...
anything vegan and new. I love trying out new recipes.
If I could travel anywhere in the world, I’d go to...
Bali or Thailand.
The best gift I ever received was…
jewelry passed down in my family.
What led you to pursue a career in helping others?
I have been drawn to helping others since a young age. This is in part because I often fell into the helper role in my family and because my difficult childhood led me to later seek out mind/body healing, especially related to anxiety and attachment wounds. It felt like a natural decision to take the path of becoming a therapist, as I have continued to be drawn to learning therapeutic strategies and using them to help others.
What education, skills and expertise do you bring to your role?
I have a unique educational background that includes a Master’s in Social Work, PPS Credential in School Social Work, and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst Certification. I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and my career has focused on working with people who have learning differences including ADHD, Autism, and people experiencing high anxiety and symptoms from trauma. I’ve worked in public K-12 schools, ABA skills-based programs with children and adults, and community mental health settings. I focus on helping clients to deepen their self-understanding, heal from relational wounding, and gain practical skills for greater well-being in their lives.
Who/what inspires you?
Learning more about specific therapy modalities always inspires me; currently this includes AEDP and IFS. I’m also inspired by my partner, Isaac, friends, being in nature, and the clients that I get to work with.
What’s your personal philosophy/approach toward the work you do?
I try to be very present with the people I work with and create a collaborative, regulating environment for us to explore their experiences together. I have a trauma-informed approach that is based on attachment theories, somatic work, and neuroscience. I also love focusing on skill-building and getting creative with clients in how they apply skills in their lives.
What is one small thing people can do to improve their lives / increase their happiness?
Bring a sense of curiosity to each day. This is something that I’ve been focusing on recently; it brings a sense of freshness and interest to my daily routines and has been helping a lot with times of stress.
We provide a range of support for people with ADHD.