
Lauren Torres Funiestas, LMFT
About Lauren Torres
Lauren Torres Funiestas started at CommuniCare+OLE in 2024. She received her Master of Arts in Holistic Counseling Psychology with a specialization in Transpersonal/Integral Psychology from John F. Kennedy University in 2014 and completed her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice Studies at San Francisco State University. Prior to coming to CommuniCare+OLE, Lauren worked in Detention Mental Health, School Based Services, Older Adult Mental Health and Utilization Review throughout the Bay Area. In addition to her day-to-day service, Lauren also runs a boutique virtual private psychotherapy and spiritual life coaching practice in Northern California on nights and weekends. Lauren specializes in trauma-informed, culturally sensitive therapeutic services for Asian American, Pacific Islander and Filipino women who are healing from intergenerational trauma, domestic violence, sexual assault and childhood abuse/neglect.
My approach to care
My care philosophy/approach to care is to provide a compassionate listening ear for survivors; to uplift women’s safety and sovereignty on an individual and collective level and to honor the spiritual and indigenous foundations that lay the groundwork for decolonizing modern day psychotherapy.
Why I went into healthcare
I became a licensed marriage and family therapist because I believe that the quality and health of our relationships with others, with ourselves and with larger society impacts our overall physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.
Something you might not know about me
Something you might not know about me is that in my last year of graduate school, I competed as an amateur bodybuilder. I went on to write my master’s thesis on the positive impact of weightlifting and establishing mind-muscle connection for trauma survivors.