Avery lackner, LAc

Avery is a neurodiversity-affirming therapist with a strong, trauma-informed background in both substance use treatment and child development. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from William & Mary and her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health and Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Arizona.

Avery views therapy as a shared process of discovery, and she has a deep respect for the courage it takes to engage in the therapeutic process. It is an honor to support people of all ages, from childhood and adolescence up through adulthood, as they face a variety of challenges such as anxiety, depression, Autism and ADHD, grief and loss, addiction, PTSD, childhood trauma, and body image struggles. Avery is particularly passionate about supporting adolescents as well as parents facing challenges in any stage of their parenting journey.

Avery’s work is grounded in the belief that each and every person is inherently worthy and capable, and the therapists’ role is to help people access those traits, even in the midst of life’s many challenges. Avery’s practice incorporates evidence-based modalities like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI) mindfulness, and inner child work. She also places a strong emphasis on somatic practices like grounding, breathwork, and body scanning, which help the mind and body reconnect as trauma is processed and, ultimately, released.

A passionate advocate against injustice in all forms, Avery is proud to be an LGBTQIA+ affirming practitioner. Her practice is rooted in a strengths-based approach that centers each client as the expert on their unique lived experience. She is committed to practicing cultural humility within and beyond the counseling space, and she consciously strives to ground her practice within a liberation-minded framework.

Outside the therapeutic space, Avery enjoys spending time with her daughter, particularly gardening and going on nature walks together. She finds peace in quiet moments spent reading or crocheting, and she is an avid Arizona basketball fan