Laura Szyikowski

  • Laura Founded River Lily Counseling in 2020. She was working mostly on her own to build her dream of providing compassionate and accessible mental health services. This was up until late 2024, when she began hiring additional people to help her expand her practice. Her goal is to hire additional psychotherapists and increase her outreach into more areas by the end of 2026.

  • Laura currently acts as the Director and Owner of River Lily Counseling. Laura’s vision as Director of River Lily Counseling is to create a safe and known resource for neurodivergent and LGBTQ individuals to receive quality mental health services.

  • Laura was in 8th grade when she realized she wanted to help people by providing counseling. She grew up in Central New York, and obtained her Bachelor’s of Psychology in North Carolina, then her Master’s in Counseling in New York. She has experience with Individual, Group, Family, and Emergency Therapy, in addition to experience as a Training Facilitator.

  • When she isn’t working, Laura spends her time in nature, or finding ways to see her friends or family. She has lived in Virginia since 2007, and loves it here due to the beautiful rivers, amazing hiking, and wonderful people. She loves to travel or visit any of her three adult children whenever she gets a chance, and would happily spend a weekend in the woods or on a beach if the opportunity presented itself.

Individual Therapy and Group Therapy Experience

Individual Therapy Experience:

Laura has offered individual counseling part-time throughout her career, from peer counseling in high school and college to professional counseling in community-based settings (homes, schools, college), prison, private offices, and state employee offices.

Before opening this practice, she provided individual counseling as a component of the following employment history (typically 5 hours a week):

  • North Carolina Department of Corrections- 2000-2001- Primarily males aged 18-22 using CBT or REBT

  • Salvation Army - 2002-2003 - Pregnant and parenting teens in inner city Syracuse, NY

  • Morrisville State College- 2005- Graduate Intern in Counseling Center

  • Northern Virginia Community College- 2007- Assisting youth transitioning from high school to college

  • New River League of Therapists- 2008-2011- Individual counseling for parents, play therapy for children

  • Minnick Education Center - 2011-2012- Counseling in school for troubled youth - K-12

  • New River Valley Community Services Board- 2012-2015- Non-directive play therapy for children with trauma and ASD.

  • Goochland-Powhatan Community Services Board- 2016- Counseling for adults primarily using MI and brief therapy

  • Northwestern Community Services Board- 2018-2019- Counseling for adults primarily using brief therapy, MI, CBT, or modified DBT.

    Now, it is currently the main focus of her work week.

From 2008-2011 I worked providing Intensive In-home family therapy primarily using the structural family therapy technique, and also behavioral therapy strategies with the New River League of Therapists.

Then from 2012-2014 I worked with children and teens with Autism Spectrum Disorder or combined ID/DD/MH, and their families with New River Community Services Board. This rewarding work also incorporated family therapy and behavioral therapy techniques..

Group Therapy Experience:

Experience as a Training Facilitator:

Throughout my career I have had the honor of facilitating group trainings. Often this effort has been rewarding in many ways, including gaining additional training and developing community relationships.

Specifically, I have facilitated the following group trainings:

  • CIT officer training on the topic of juveniles in crisis for Northwestern Community Services Board, 2019.

  • Meditation Techniques, Festival Workshop, 2019.

  • Therapeutic Options Trainer for Goochland Powhatan Community Services Board, 2016.

  • Parenting Together Separately Instructor for Virginia Courts 2010-2011.

  • Freshmen Orientation for Northern Virginia Community College, 2007.

  • Adjunct Professor, Drugs and Society class, Morrisville State College, 2006.

  • Peer Educator Training, Morrisville State College, 2004.

  • Anger management, NC DOC, 2000-2001.

  • Listening Skills, Big Brothers Big Sisters, monthly 1999-2000.