Lara Peter, MD, LCPC - Therapist in Maryland

About Lara

Lara Peter is a mental health professional with an MD and LCPC and about 10 years of hands-on experience as a therapist. She focuses on building a steady, nonjudgmental relationship so people feel safe to share what matters most. Lara emphasizes going at each person’s pace so therapy feels manageable and useful.

She helps people work through stress, anxiety, grief, depression, and issues with self-esteem and eating. She also supports people coping with trauma, addiction, sleep problems, anger, career concerns, bipolar challenges, ADHD, and life transitions.

Book with Lara Now Review online therapy options and next steps on BetterHelp.

Background and approach

Lara commonly addresses attachment and abandonment concerns, body image, caregiver stress, and communication difficulties. Her style is grounded in Client-Centered Therapy and Solution-Focused work, with tools drawn from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing when helpful. Sessions combine listening with practical feedback and simple skills people can try between meetings.

The focus is on small, concrete changes that add up over time. Lara has worked in outpatient, residential, in-home, school, and university settings. That variety shaped a flexible approach that adapts to each person’s daily life and needs.

She aims to reflect what people say back to them, helping uncover patterns and options for change. Therapy is collaborative and goal-oriented with an emphasis on real-world problem solving. People who want to learn new coping strategies, address painful emotions, or make life changes will find a practical and supportive partner in Lara.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening without judgment and reflecting back what someone shares, which helps people feel heard and understand their own thoughts better. This approach is useful for emotional concerns like grief, low self-esteem, and relationship patterns.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people notice thoughts and behaviors that maintain problems and then practice small experiments to change them. CBT is often used for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and some eating concerns.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their needs, goals, and preferences. That may mean mixing listening-based methods with skills training or short goal-focused tasks.

Online sessions can include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, which lets people pick what suits their schedule and comfort. Video calls are good for deeper conversation and visual cues, phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited, live chat can be a brief check-in, and messaging is useful for short updates or tools between meetings. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and maintain continuity across weeks.

Book with Lara Now Review online therapy options and next steps on BetterHelp.

Questions people ask

What concerns does Lara commonly help with?

She works with stress, anxiety, grief, depression, self-esteem, eating and addiction issues, plus trauma and sleep or anger problems. Additional focuses include ADHD, body image, attachment concerns, caregiver stress, and communication difficulties.

What is her general therapeutic style?

Her approach is person-centered and solution-focused, with practical feedback and tools. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing techniques when they fit the client’s goals.

How long has she practiced as a therapist?

She has about 10 years of direct experience working as a therapist in multiple settings. That background includes outpatient, residential, in-home, and school settings.

What credentials does she hold and where is she located?

She lists MD and LCPC as her credentials and practices in Maryland.

Can sessions be conducted in other languages or with international clients?

Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.

Which session formats are available?

Therapy can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on what fits the person’s needs.

How is cost handled for sessions?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the steps to begin therapy?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule appointments based on the therapist’s availability.

What this counselor works with

Most often

Stress, Anxiety
Grief
Eating disorders

Also listed

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 10 years
Licensed: Maryland
Languages: English