Hidden Gems: Meet Lauren Taylor of Inner Balance Counseling

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Taylor.

Hi Lauren, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My name is Lauren Taylor, and I’m a licensed clinical social worker as well as the founder of Inner Balance Counseling in Atlanta. In many ways, this work has always felt like my calling. My
mother was a psychologist who worked with juvenile girls, and I grew up fascinated by the
transformations she helped people experience. By middle school, I was already writing in a
school autobiography that I wanted to be a psychologist one day, and the truth is, I never really
considered doing anything else.

Even as a teenager, I was the friend people turned to when they needed someone to listen. As
an empathic person, I’ve always been tuned in to the emotions of others. While that sensitivity
required me to learn healthy boundaries, it also gave me an intuitive sense of what people are
going through and allowed me to create spaces where they feel deeply understood. Those
qualities became the foundation for my work as a therapist.

I studied social work at the University of Alabama. I was drawn to that major’s strong focus on
social justice. Later, I earned my MSW (Master’s of Social Work) at Virginia Commonwealth
University in my hometown of Richmond. Along the way, I worked in adoption services,
residential treatment, and community-based programs, but no matter the role, I always kept a
caseload of therapy clients. That one-on-one work has always been my passion, the place
where I feel most at home.

I opened my private practice in 1999, incorporated Inner Balance in 2011, and by 2018 began
expanding into a group practice. What started as a solo venture has now grown into a talented
team of ten therapists across two locations, with more growth ahead. As a practice owner, I love
helping newer therapists grow into their skills, step into their gifts, and find their own voice in this
work. Supporting both clients and colleagues in their journeys has been incredibly rewarding.

At the heart of it all, I do this work because it excites me. I love being part of people’s
transformational journeys—watching them let go of old patterns, step into their true selves, and
move toward wholeness. I’m a lifelong learner, always exploring new ways of understanding
who we are and how we grow. For me, there’s nothing more fulfilling than witnessing someone
step into their highest expression of themselves. This isn’t just my job—it feels like my life’s
work.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. The biggest challenge we’ve faced was during COVID. Almost overnight, we had to figure out how to move everything to
telehealth, when before that we had done very little online therapy. At the same time,
the need for mental health support skyrocketed—so many people were experiencing
heightened anxiety and uncertainty.

It was a different kind of challenge, because I wasn’t only walking my clients through
something unknown and overwhelming—I was in it too, right there with them. That
made the work more emotionally intense, but also more honest and deeply human.

In the long run, though, that period really reshaped our practice. The demand for
services eventually led me to expand and bring on new therapists, which has helped us
grow into the group practice we are today. Looking back, it was a tough season, but it
also pushed us to adapt, to innovate, and ultimately to serve more people in ways we
may not have considered before.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Since 1999, Inner Balance Counseling and founder Lauren Taylor have been a trusted space in Atlanta for individuals, couples, families, and groups seeking support, growth, and lasting
change.

Our therapists believe that emotional healing starts when clients can begin to tap into their own
inner wisdom. Our team of dedicated therapists takes a holistic approach, integrating mind,
body, and spirit to support growth and resilience. Because lasting change often starts in the
body, several of our therapists incorporate somatic modalities, helping clients release stored
stress, deepen self-awareness, and move toward balance in every area of life.

Our team of 10 therapists have a wide range of specialties, so we are able to serve lots of
different people through different phases of life. We support clients around anxiety, depression,
relationship and family concerns, trauma, life transitions, work stress & burnout, ADHD, LGBTQ
issues, and more. We can see an individual, then we can see the couple, then we can see their
teenage child. So we have the ability to work with entire families. Whether someone is navigating
divorce, exploring self-discovery, healing from complex trauma, or strengthening intimacy in a
relationship, we’re able to meet them where they are.

We also draw from a variety of research-based methods so therapy feels tailored, not one-size-
fits-all. Depending on someone’s needs, our work might include approaches like mindfulness,
somatic therapy, EMDR, Internal Family Systems or DBT. We take pride in our emphasis on
mindfulness and nervous system regulation. We teach clients how to calm and ground
themselves—through practices like meditation, journaling, movement, or time in nature. This
allows them to then do the deeper inner work of therapy from a place of balance and clarity.

What makes us a little different is our holistic approach. Instead of looking at things like anxiety
or depression only as “disorders,” we see them as signals—clues that something in life is out of
balance. When we pause to explore those signals, they can actually become an opening for

growth, self-discovery, and change. Every therapist on our team shares the belief that clients
already hold the strengths and insight they need—it’s just that sometimes painful experiences,
old patterns, or limiting beliefs can get in the way. Our job is to help clear those blocks and give
people the tools and support to move forward.

Our main location is a light-filled 1920s house in Virginia Highlands, and people often say they
feel at ease the moment they walk in. That’s really important to us, because therapy should feel
safe, warm, and inviting.

At the heart of it, Inner Balance is about helping people feel more like themselves again—more
free, more alive, more connected. We’re proud to be a place where clients not only find relief
from challenges, but also learn how to thrive in a way that feels true to who they are.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
My biggest piece of advice is to find community with other like-minded professionals in the field. Without colleagues or collaborators this work can feel lonely. Being part of a professional group of other practice owners in metro Atlanta has been invaluable. When I have to make a big business decision or navigate something new, whether it’s policies, legal questions, or practice management, I have people I can turn to who have experience and are willing to offer their insight. That sense of camaraderie has made such a difference.

I also make a point to attend networking events and connect regularly with other therapists and professionals in the area. I have found that building these relationships creates a trusted network, which has reciprocal benefits. When a client needs something outside of my scope, like acupuncture or a psychological assessment, I want to know I’m referring them to someone who will take great care of them.

I have found that these professional connections can lead to really fun collaborations.
Most recently, I’ve teamed up with Gail Turner-Cooper of Align Health Coaching to co-
host The Light Readers Book Club, which is a space that brings more creativity and joy
into my work.

So my advice would be: don’t try to do it all alone. As a solo practitioner I often found
the work to be lonely, so my advice is to build a team and community. Surround yourself
with peers who can share their wisdom and cheer you on, and build professional
connections that allow you to collaborate in supporting clients more fully.

Pricing:

• Lauren’s rate for Individuals- $195
• Lauren’s rate for Couples- $220
• The practice rates range from $75-220 per session

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.innerbalanceatlanta.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inner_balance_atlanta/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InnerBalanceAtlanta/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/inner-balance-counseling-atlanta