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Laquanique Lake profile

Laquanique Lake, LMSW

Message from Laquanique

Laquanique offers a heart healing path approach to therapy, wherein the client is their own healer, and she is their heart healing path guide. This approach affirms that all human beings are Love despite the sum of their behaviors and the consequences of those behaviors; that Love is perfection; that perfection is wholeness; and that all human beings are whole despite experiences of suffering. Heart healing is the practice of choosing to hear one’s heart through the fiercest of the mind’s distracting lies about who one is and what one has to offer. The healing journey or path is, then, not the process of rewriting oneself as whole, but, rather, it is perceiving the wholeness that one already is. As the heart has a profound and often suppressed consciousness of its own – one that speaks truth to the mind’s distortions of who one is and what their purposes are – Laquanique uses multiple frameworks to help healers hear the heart’s voice more precisely and more frequently within the context of day-to-day living. Developing one’s ability to purposefully discern between the heart’s voice and the mind’s voice (the internal source of self-love talk and the internal source of self-distortion talk; wholeness perception and fragmented perception) is a potent healing tool, for it makes ‘choice’ apparent to the healer in a way that is not only understood but also internally experienced. The healer is made aware of their right to choose heart guidance over mind guidance and the choice to train the mind to be in service to their highest good or life’s purposes. The heart healing path approach places fundamental, clinical social work theory, practice, ethics, tools, and symptom conceptualization/categorization within the context of heart-centeredness, thereby, revering and making space for ways of perceiving self that extend beyond the mind. It acknowledges the soul’s ability to be expressed through nonverbal mediums such as uninhibited, heart-led art, and it acknowledges the body’s innate wisdom and (often undervalued) ability to share healing truths. It acknowledges the whole lived experience of a person – mind, body, and soul – by practically melding intuition and intellect. This approach is, thus, multifaceted, mobilizing celebration, curiosity, experience, practice, reflection, awareness, imagination, exploration, and soul expression while drawing from the frameworks of dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, functional family therapy, strengths perspective, client-centered perspective, mindfulness, problem-solving/solution-centered perspective, and soul-expressive art/heart-led art (via movement, lyrical expression, free writing, free-from poetry, wordless vocalization). There is not one kind of person who can benefit from the heart healing path approach to therapy. All are welcome who desire to see themselves whole and with Love. Here are some kinds of challenges that can be explored through the heart healing path approach: fear of Love, distrust of Love, fear of unknown future events (worry), resentment, disgust with Life, shame of physical appearance, despair and the desire to self-harm, difficulty with finding meaning in life’s experiences, desire to pass on from this life into peace, fear of expressing oneself fully through the use of voice, desire to be in freedom from past pain, difficulty loving self, fear of the experience of freedom, fear of rejection of true self-expression, experience of being constrained by dominating emotions, experience of non-medically explained pain or discomfort, reexperiencing of unresolved past pain. The healer’s heart healing journey is not confined to the healing space cocreated by client and clinician/healer and guide. Laquanique will, therefore, assist healers in creating their own healing practices, for what is persistently practice will become the healer’s patterned way of living, and the healer’s patterned way of living will continuously create the quality of their lived experiences. Laquanique L. Lake is formally recognized by the state of New York as a licensed master social worker. She earned a BA Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University and an MSW degree from New York University’s Silver School of Social Work.

About Laquanique's practice

Availability

Availability

No availability at this time

Fee

Fee

$$

Sliding scale

Style

Style

Directive

Reflective

Body-based

Method

Method

In-person available: No

Virtual available: Yes

Expertise

Expertise

Existential Crisis or Transition

Self-Reflection

Self-Esteem

Body Image

Suicidal Feelings

Mood

Depression

Anxiety

Insurance

Insurance

Oxford

UMR

United / Oxford

Optum

Cigna

Aetna

Wellfleet

Aetna Student Health

Aetna International

All Savers Insurance Company

Golden Rule Insurance Company

Meritain

United Healthcare Shared Services

United Healthcare Student Resources

Allied

Trustmark

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield

Boons Chapman

Nippon

Special Insurance Services (SIS)

Surest Health Plan

Wellfleet Student

Harvard Pilgram

Tufts

State

State

NY

Why state matters

Background
Profile

Get to Know Laquanique

"Laquanique is a unique therapist that focuses on a wholistic approach to healing the mind, body, soul, and spirit. Laquanique provides tools to empower the client to problem solve on their own with her support. Laquanique is compassionate and genuinely cares about the wellbeing of the client, encouraging and motivating the client to navigate the many systems of the world. I recommend Laquanique to anyone who is seeking to get a deeper understanding of their inner self. She is understanding yet pushes one to become a better version of themselves."

MSW Supervisor , Colleague

From your perspective, what is therapy?

When used as a medium in which one heals, therapy is the process by which a human being(s) is intentionally accompanied and assisted by another on their journey toward uncovering their self as perfect Love, filled with Life. It is the grand co-creation of client and clinician/ healer and guide, wherein the healer, by way of awareness, genuine expression, practiced strategies, trial and error, and dialogue, learns that they can choose to see theirself more whole and, thus, transform their life. It is the sacred space wherein the healer can show up raw and unedited, without pretense and without the actual threat of judgment being imposed as truth. It is the healing place wherein the healer may try on their authentic soul expression, experience it more fully, flaunt it, play in it, grow accustomed to it and, when they are willing, begin to express it in their daily life.

Please share 2-3 anonymized examples of how the work can play out and/or look in the room so that I can form a visual or narrative of what to expect.

During an eight-month period, I collaborated with a woman who, after recovering from cancer, experienced symptoms of depression and severe anxiety. We explored her vision of her healing, the details of her current challenges, what she discovered to be nurturing and hindering to her healing journey, and the internal and external strengths that she could leverage in order to support her healing process. When the healer was ready to take a more active role in creating the life experiences that she desired to have, our shared time became focused on using what she discovered about herself to develop tools, skill, and strategies that would help her achieve her goals. With guidance, encouragement, and persistent practice, the healer began to bring about the changes that she envisioned. Her experience shifted from one characterized by excessive sleeping, frequent panic attacks, isolation, and familial conflict to one wherein she created and effectively implemented an anxiety-reduction routine of her own; she began to actively pursue employment; she began adorning herself in ways that made her feel confident; she began to travel locally; she began to experience less conflict with her children and spouse. Over the course of four months, I collaborated with an adolescent female in her senior year of high school; this healer was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and presented with difficulty navigating depressive states, social anxiety, low self-esteem, severe school avoidance, and strained relationships with her family members. Sessions focused on amplifying and affirming her reality by providing the space for her to uninhibitedly share her experiences and develop her own vision for her wellbeing. This vision became the center point around which sessions were designed, focusing primarily on amplifying the empowering internal (heart’s) voice that she was already attuned to and using the truths spoken by that voice to identify, question, and evidentially challenge the unbalancing lies perpetuated by the mind. The healer was introduced to heart-led, narrative rewriting techniques and perspective-expanding communication strategies. She was also made aware of the ways in which she could use her spiritual and creative processes to take ownership of her choices and exert authority over emotion. At the conclusion of our collaboration, the healer demonstrated increased school attendance, increased engagement with a positive peer group, improved emotional awareness, an increased ability to express feelings and emotions in a nonthreatening manner, the ability to collaboratively developed an emotion regulation plan that included parental support, and maintenance of her goal of remaining medication free.

Are there any philosophies or values that inform your work that I should know about?

Central to my journey with clients, whom I refer to as healers, is the knowing that human beings are purposeful, bearing unique soul expressions through which their Love-given gifts are offered to the world. The heart has a profound and often suppressed consciousness that provides an open pathway to unveiling one’s purpose by, firstly, revealing their wholeness to them. The healing journey, then, is not rewriting oneself as whole, but, rather, it is perceiving the wholeness that one already is.

How much do you share about yourself during our time together and why?

As your heart healing path guide, I honor the sacredness of your healing space by being aware of and decentering myself during our shared time; for this reason, I share relatively little about myself. I will, however, share purposefully, in service to your healing process. If you ask me a question, however, I will offer a genuine response.

How participatory are you during sessions?

I am highly active in sessions! The presentation of my activeness, however, will vary in accordance with what is happening in the healing space. I will participate by asking questions that are intentioned to help you see your circumstances from an expanded point of view. I will teach or demonstrate a practice, skill or strategy. I will provide feedback on your practice of a skill or strategy. I will offer you a reframe or different perspectives that will challenge impeding thoughts. I will let out a happy dance or shimmy or squeal in celebration of you and your journey. I will honor your heart’s truths and soul expressions. I will interrupt or intervene if I observe you spiraling in pain or negativity. I will express curiosity about your nonverbal communication (body language, facial expression, etc.). I will listen intently as evidenced by my body language and vocal responses. I will respond to my heart’s truths, my body’s intuition, and my intellect in ways that aid your healing. You will know that I am present in the healing space with you, and if you should have doubts, you are always welcomed to voice them.

Do you assign homework, activities, or readings for me to do between sessions? Why or why not?

Absolutely! The healing space that we cocreate is dedicated to the exploration, practice, and development of your healing journey. That journey, however, extends far beyond the borders of our sessions. In order for you - the healer - to regularly perceive the wholeness that you are in any and all areas of your lived experience, you will have to commit to a different way of perceiving your truth. This will require practice or the focused application of skill, strategies, and techniques. With practice, however, you will begin to use the skills, strategies, and techniques in ways that are unique to you. What you persistently practice will become your way of life, and your way of life will determine the quality of your lived experience.

How will our relationship be different than relationships I have with friends/loved ones?

Our relationship will be centered on your wholistic healing process, not on the mutual emotional and social gains that characterize healthy personal relationships. In this way, all that happens in the healing space - all meaningful communication - is purposed to aid your healing. Because our relationship is centered on your healing, it is my professional responsibility to be present, to be aware of, accountable for, and in control of my experience of emotions, and to challenge and disregard any judgments that I may be tempted to accept as truths about who you are. Though your loved ones may or may not show up to your relationship in this way, they are not professionally obligated to do so.

Is there ever a time when you would encourage me to leave or graduate? Or how do I know when it's time to end or move on, or time to stay and explore more?

This will be an ongoing dialogue between you and myself as your journey progresses. In general, I will acknowledge your innate wisdom and encourage you to listen for your heart’s guidance. Early on in our collaboration, we will explore your vision of completion/success/ graduation based on what you identify as your primary focus of healing. We will use this vision as a “loose” measurement tool, in acknowledgment of the possibility that your vision of completion may change as you grow. Should your vision change, we will collaborate with one another to create spaciousness for your new vision. There is always more to explore in life; your explorations will not always look like our collaboration in sessions. If it is useful to you, we will discuss and plan for your continued exploration beyond our cycle of sessions. The completion of a cycle of sessions, however, does not have to be our final parting; you are welcomed to reach out for a “booster” session (or two or few) if you sense that it may best support your healing journey in the weeks or months after our initial cycle of sessions has ended.

Where did you work before going into private practice?

Before entering into private practice, I worked in prevention services, where I provided functional family therapy (FFT-CW) to families who were involved with the child welfare system. This therapeutic intervention was purposed to create familial stability in pursuit of the goal of keeping adolescents from being removed from their familial homes.

Have you received any particular training beyond your post-Bachelor's training?

I was awarded my MSW degree from New York University. I am training in the application of traditional and contemporary Afrikan-centered healing modalities under Brenda 'Iya Sawu Unequa' Nixon, MA founder and practitioner of African-centered Expressive Arts.

What led you to become a mental healthcare practitioner?

Curiosity – For a great portion of my lived experience, I’ve been curious about: what guides people to respond in the way that they do to their environment and what accounts for the differences in how people respond to the same happening in an environment, what hinders people from experiencing wholeness, joy, thanksgiving, fulfillment, and peace and what evokes people to the experience of wholeness, joy, thanksgiving, fulfillment, and peace. In the midst of trying to understand the “meaning” of this curiosity – trying to discern what it was revealing about my life’s path - I remembered how to allow my heart to guide me, even when it seemed nonsensical to the mind. Never steering me wrong, it revealed to me that what I perceived to be the mind’s curiosity was actually my heart’s calling. It led me to participate in the healing journeys of courageous healers, such as yourself, and I am grateful that it has.

What is the best part of the work for you?

I genuinely cherish being able to show up authentically to the healing space, knowing that I have been allowed the sacred privilege of collaborating with a healer as they navigate their own unique healing journey and knowing that I have been allowed the honor to witness some of their transformation along their journey. Saying “Yes!” to this heart healing path guide position via therapy is awesome in the profound/unfiltered/full essence of the word.

What is unique about the work you do, or how have you found your work to be different than your colleagues'?

The heart healing path approach places fundamental, clinical social work theory, practice, ethics, tools, and symptom conceptualization/categorization within the context of heart-centeredness, thereby, revering and making space for ways of perceiving self that extend beyond the mind. It acknowledges the soul’s ability to be expressed through nonverbal mediums such as uninhibited, heart-led art, and it acknowledges the body’s innate wisdom and (often undervalued) ability to share healing truths. It acknowledges the whole lived experience of a person – mind, body, and soul – by practically melding intuition and intellect. This approach is, thus, multifaceted, mobilizing celebration, curiosity, experience, practice, reflection, awareness, imagination, exploration, and soul expression while drawing from the frameworks of dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, functional family therapy, strengths perspective, client-centered perspective, mindfulness, problem-solving/solution-centered perspective, and soul-expressive art/heart-led art (via movement, lyrical expression, free writing, free-from poetry, wordless vocalization).

How do you approach diversity in the room or working with clients who may come from a different background than you?

Diversity is met with intentional and heart-led curiosity. My intentions are these: to actively be in the practice of seeing you with heart – to behold you as a whole, sovereign, significant human being with unique-to-you talents, gifts, and abilities needed by the world irrespective of your experiences, actions, appearances, orientations, belief systems, obvious and unobvious characteristics (identities), individual and ancestral histories/herstories/theirstories; to be aware of the ways in which I have been socialized to fear and, so, contain the “mythical other” by assigning boxes, biases, and stereotypes to people and experiences that appear to be unfamiliar; to continuously assess where I am in relationship to perceiving you with heart and perceiving you with fear, so that I may conscientiously choose to see you with heart; to allow the selflessness of the heart to demonstrate a curiosity about you in a way that 1) acknowledges that I don’t have all the answers about you and 2) encourages you to uninhibitedly define, interpret, and make meaning of the ways in which you show up in and perceive yourself in the world; to be responsible for/tend to my own discomfort that may arise from acknowledging that I do not and will not fully “know” you and your experience. As a fallible human being, I may, at times, step out of alignment with these intentions in a way that impacts you; though it is my responsibility to make adjustments, I will always invite genuine discussion that centers your experience and invites your input in my endeavor to partner with you in a way that you experience as uplifting and empowering.

How can you tell if I am benefiting from working with you?

Celebrating the seemingly small successes is a significant part of the healing journey. Not only will it begin to reveal to you your profound courage and vast capability, but it can also buildup your self-confidence and self-esteem, inspire hope, and evoke a more enthusiastic commitment to your process. Crucial to developing a celebration practice is the development of an awareness practice, so that you begin to note the obvious and subtle changes within your lived experience. In session, I will point out things that I notice and hear in our communication that evidence movement toward goal achievement. I will guide you in the development of your own awareness and celebration practices and encourage their use both inside and outside of sessions. I will check in with you regularly, and you will regularly begin to check in with yourself.

How can you tell if I am feeling stuck, unseen, or unheard?

I will use awareness and intuition to discern that which is verbally unexpressed and yet still “happening” in the healing space. When I sense that there is a disconnection between you and myself, I will verbally acknowledge it and invite you into collaborative exploration. You are, also, strongly encouraged and always welcomed to express any session-related concerns that may arise during our shared time. If there are moments wherein you believe that you are unable to clearly articulate what is not working for you, say so; I will assist you in more accurately naming “the elephant in the room.”

How long should I commit to being in therapy, at least in the beginning?

I recommend allowing yourself four weekly sessions at the onset of our collaboration; use this time to discern whether or not you are willing and ready to commit to a longer cycle of exploration and to determine whether or not my session style and heart healing path approach are well suited to your needs and goals. After the first four sessions, should you decided to continue, we will discuss the frequency of sessions (weekly, biweekly, monthly, as needed, etc.) in accordance with your goals. Generally, allow yourself six to twelve months to complete the therapeutic healing process. Your process may be shorter or longer, and that is okay.

How should I prepare for my first session with you?

Come exactly as you are, as all of you is significant and welcomed. I ask that you schedule a consultation call; during this call, we will discuss the first session within the context of your expressed interests and my ability to assist you. Prior to the first session, I will request that you complete a client contact form and an intake form on which you will be asked to fill in your date of birth, along with any individual and/or familial medical and/or psychiatric histories. All sessions are currently being offered remotely in order to contribute to the safety of healers; remote sessions are likely to be offered well into 2021. As such, I recommend that you prepare yourself and your space for sessions in such a way that you perceive to be nurturing to your healing process. This can be as simple as having drinking water near or offering yourself 30 seconds of stillness before joining the session. It can also be as elaborate as you wish - this is completely up to your choosing. I also suggest that you limit distractions in your physical environment to the extent that is possible for you, and - at the same time - show up in whatever active roles that you need to show up in (parent, caretaker, partner, employed person, etc.) in that physical space. All of you is welcomed in session; together, we will navigate the changing demands and expectations of our shifting society.

What are your policies and practices around insurance?

If you would like to receive out-of-network reimbursement, please be prepared to send an electronic image or copy of your insurance card during the consultation call. I will forward your insurance information to the billing team in order to obtain your coverage details. Prior to the start of our first session, I will contact you with the details of your coverage, as they relate to both short and long-term out-of-pocket costs. We’ll then discuss your options so that you can informedly plan your next steps.