Lauren is an Adjunct Faculty at AULA and an Affiliate Faculty at Northwestern University. She is a founding member of the Neuroscience Integration Lab at Northwestern University and has held various roles in mental health since 2008. Lauren's professional foci include neuroscience, trauma, dissociation, and Brainspotting. She works full-time at a private practice specializing in trauma, PTSD, cPTSD, dissociative disorders and DID, Brainspotting, and trauma resolution.
- Oregon State University - Corvallis, OR 2024: Doctor of Philosophy, Counseling Focus: Neuroscience in Graduate Level Counseling Curriculum In progress
- Northwestern University - Evanston, IL 2021: Master of Arts, Clinical Mental Health Counseling; CACREP-accredited GPA: 3.98 with Distinction Specializations: Evaluation and Treatment of Trauma; Child & Adolescent Counseling
- T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics at Arizona State University - Tempe, AZ 2017: Bachelor of Science, Human and Family Development
Neuroscience and Trauma
- Horton, L. M., Schwartzberg, C., Goldberg, C. D., Grieve, F. G., & Brdecka, L. E. (2024). Brainspotting: A Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. International Body Psychotherapy Journal, 22(2). ISBN 2169-4745
- Atkins, K., Tollerud, T., Brdecka, L. E., & Chrones, D. (2023). Embedding Military Culture in Multicultural Frameworks: A Phenomenological Study. The Qualitative Report. Accepted on March 19, 2023.
- Brdecka, L. E. (2024). Neuroscience of Trauma [Webinar]. Illinois Counseling Association. https://www.ilcounseling.org/store/viewproduct.aspx?id=23769321
- Brdecka, L. E. (2023, November 11). Trauma, Neuroscience, and the Body: Bottom-Up Concepts in Counseling. Illinois Counseling Association, Lisle, IL. https://www.ilcounseling.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1769707&group=
- Brdecka, L. E. (2023, September 29). Skills and Neuroscience of Trauma for Supporting Injured Workers. International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals, Lake Geneva, WI. https://rehabpro.org/event/midwest-fall-seminar-2023
- Brdecka, L. E. (2022, November 12). Applying and Defining Neuroeducation in Counseling Practice. Illinois Counseling Association Annual Conference, Lisle, IL. https://www.ilcounseling.org/page/ICA_73_Conference
- Brdecka, L. E. (2022, June 24). Neuroeducation [Virtual]. BrainstormLIVE Neuroscience Network, Evanston, IL. https://sites.google.com/view/brainstorm-network/home/
- Brdecka, L. E. (2022, March 18). Neuroscience-Supported Multicultural Counseling Competencies and Skills [Virtual]. Illinois Counseling Association Southern Conference, Collinsville, IL. https://www.ilcounseling.org/page/2022_So_Conf_Proposa
- Brdecka, L. E. & Susik, K. (2021, October 28). Neuroscience-Supported Counseling Skills and Competencies [Virtual]. Illinois Counseling Association Annual Conference, Lisle, IL. https://www.ilcounseling.org/page/ICA_73_Conference
- Beeson, E. T., Brdecka, L. E., & Susik, K. (2021, April 8). Practical Translations of Neuroscience in Practice [Virtual]. West Virginia Licensed Professional Counselors Association, Charleston, WV. http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07ehmr3ist1fc2524a&llr=dfolxc5ab
- Atkins, K. & Brdecka, L. E. (2019, November 8). The Powerful Dynamic of Shared Experiences in Counseling Military Populations [In-person]. Illinois Counseling Association Annual Conference, Skokie, IL. https://www.ilcounseling.org/page/2019_Conference_info#
- Emerging Scholar Award 2019
- Emerging Scholar Award 2020
- Emerging Scholar Award 2021
- Illinois Counseling Association - Treasurer
- PSY-6210 Clinical Practicum
- PSY-5360D Research for Mental Health Professionals
- PSY 5350 Systems Theory & the Family II
- PSY-5000 Clinical Training Readiness
- PSY-5210A Field Study