Our Team
Skilled Clinicians Dedicated to Supporting First Responders, Frontline Workers, and Public Safety Agencies
Evidence Based Treatment
The clinicians at Midcoast Counseling Group offer evidence based treatment through a culturally competent lens. Treatment offerings include EMDR (Eye Movement Reprocessing & Desensitization), TIR (Trauma Incident Reduction), and PE (Prolonged Exposure). These treatments effectively treat symptoms of Anxiety, Panic, Emergency Responder Exhaustion Syndrome, and Posttraumatic Stress injury.
The brain has its own reprocessing system—and this system is incredibly effective most of the time. Exposure (particularly ongoing exposure) to stressful or traumatic events can sometimes hijack this system. As a result, we may notice changes in our behavior, as well as how we think and feel (among other things). Sometimes these changes are immediately noticeable, and sometimes they happen slowly over time. It is often family and friends who notice these changes first.
Evidence based treatments work by jump starting the brain’s own reprocessing system. As a result, how you view the traumatic or stressful memories changes: your body remains calm when recalling the events, how you think about yourself and those around you is based in reality and logic, and you are able to move forward with increased resilience.
Lauren Hample, LCSW
Owner & Therapist
Lauren has been practicing as a trauma focused therapist since earning her degree in 2011 and is certified in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) through the EMDR International Association. She is currently the only vetted and approved clinician by the Fraternal Order of Police in the state of Maine.
Lauren is passionate about officer and responder wellness, and contracts with public safety agencies state-wide to develop and maintain responder wellness programs. In addition to her work with public safety and first responder agencies, Lauren offers individual treatment as well as four and eight day EMDR intensives.
Lisa Hickey, LCSW
Contract Clinician and Trauma Specialist
Lisa has 15 years of experience in outpatient counseling and Employee Assistance Program counseling, recently transitioning to private practice at Midcoast Counseling Group in order to join a mental health treatment facility that is aware and remains informed of the challenges and issues specific to law enforcement, veterans, fire and rescue, and emergency medical personnel.
Lisa specializes in Traumatic Incident Reduction and Prolonged Exposure for treating trauma in its many forms, including: PTSD, CPTSD, and acute stress disorder, anxiety, stress, and complex grief. In 2007, Lisa earned her Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Maine. Lisa studied Political Science with a concentration in Spanish and International Affairs, and graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Maine. Lisa is trained as a facilitator of Traumatic Incident Reduction and Life Stress Reduction. She has had in-depth training and case supervision in Prolonged Exposure. She has a wide variety of person-centered healing techniques to tailor to a client’s individual needs.