Laura Petiford on systemic thinking and relationships

Laura Petiford, co-owner of Collaborative Counseling Group, began her career in mental health as a Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) prior to becoming a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). The theoretical framework of Marriage and Family Therapy is distinct in mental health in that it takes the whole of a person’s life into account when considering symptoms and providing care. This approach resonates with Laura in that it explains how a person’s behavior and interpretation of the world can make sense within the context of all that they have and are experiencing. While working with clients, she became aware of the difficulty connecting with prescribers who took this kind of systemic approach to treatment. Through nursing, she found a practical, comprehensive and compassionate approach that incorporates medication management into the overall treatment of mental health. This coupled with her marriage and family therapy education has given Laura a unique foundation and perspective from which she provides treatment. She has worked in a variety of healthcare settings including inpatient, intensive outpatient, outpatient and community psychiatry. Originally from Missouri, Laura has lived as an ex-pat in Paris, France and has raised two adult daughters. She is most gratified by helping clients discover their own inner resources to redirect their lives in more positive and fulfilling directions.