About Dr. Lauren Hunter

I'm Dr. Lauren Hunter, an existential psychotherapist and gerontologist, providing counseling services in Jefferson, New Orleans, River Ridge, and surrounding communities in Louisiana. I help adults navigate profound transitions: the grief of loss, the shifting ground of retirement, the anxiety of aging, the mystery of mortality, and the search for identity and meaning in later life.

My practice offers more than symptom relief. It is a sanctuary for those ready to slow down, look inward, and re-engage with what truly matters. Whether you’re mourning a loss, reckoning with the passage of time, or confronting questions long set aside, you are welcome here.

My Qualifications

I earned a BA in Psychology from the University of Mississippi, an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Loyola University New Orleans, and a PhD in Aging Studies from Tulane University. I am a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in Louisiana, with experience since 2019 specializing in aging, grief, existential anxiety, and life transitions. My practice is characterized by warmth, empathy, and a solid foundation in theory-driven approaches that focus on personal growth, radical acceptance, and meaning-making.

In addition to my private practice, I serve as an adjunct professor at Loyola University New Orleans, teaching the Study of Death and Dying in the MS in Counseling program. I am deeply passionate about my work and feel honored to accompany my clients on their path to healing and transformation.

Existential Therapy in a Nutshell

Existential psychotherapy isn’t surface-level therapy. It invites us to explore—not avoid—the profound realities of existence:

• Loss and grief

• Aging and retirement transitions

• Identity shifts in later adulthood

• Anxiety around meaning, death, change, and the unknown

Together, we don’t merely manage symptoms—we work relationally and actively to make meaning, cultivate resilience, and reclaim vitality. Sorrow, insight, humor, transformation — they all have a place in this space.

About You

You’re not broken — you’re becoming. Aging, grieving, changing — these are not pathologies to be fixed. They are thresholds to be honored. In a world that often fears aging and rushes past grief, this practice offers something different: A place where your experiences are met with clarity, compassion, and respect.

What is the First Session Like?

Starting therapy can feel intimidating—especially if your mind is full, you’re not sure where to begin, or you want to discuss things that might bring up strong emotions. That’s completely normal.

The first session is primarily about getting to know each other and building rapport. I’ll listen to how you’re experiencing the world, explore what’s weighing on you, and help you start making sense of your patterns and responses.

By the end of our first session, my goal is that you leave with:

• A clearer sense of how you cope and adapt (we all have adaptive ways of managing stress and anxiety).

• A deeper understanding of yourself and what matters to you.

• Confidence and clarity about whether continuing our work together feels right.

I want our first session to feel life-giving—a space where you feel seen, heard, and a bit lighter for having begun the process.

Rates

My fee is $175 per session (50 minutes). I accept Medicare and most Medicare Advantage plans. Once you provide your insurance information, my billing specialist will verify your coverage and confirm eligibility before your first session. Please visit my Psychology Today profile for more information.