Therapist

Laura First, LCSW-C

Expressive Arts & Individual Therapist
With ClearView Communities since 2018

Laura Ellen First, BMT, MSW, LCSW-C, is an experienced psychotherapist with more than 25 years of clinical experience providing individual therapy and expressive arts modalities using imagery, story, theater, prose and poetry, sound/music and creativity to support insights in healing and trauma recovery. Creative activities to weave community are also an active part of the Clearview Experience.Laura leads group therapy in creativity, improvisation and creative chaos for the common good. Laura brings extensive expertise in trauma-informed care, EMDR, substance use disorder treatment, and mental health treatment for complex emotional and behavioral needs within structured therapeutic environments, including residential treatment settings.

Prior to joining ClearView Communities, Laura worked at Sagebrush in Virginia, where she supported individuals navigating substance use disorders, trauma, grief, and co-occurring mental health conditions.Laura utilized therapeutic use of STORY, and supported the outdoor program, recovery garden, and labyrinth meditations. She previously spent nearly 20 years with The Jefferson School, part of the Sheppard Pratt Health System, where she provided clinical treatment across individual, group, and family modalities and coordinated the extensive Expressive Therapies program.

Throughout her career, Laura has specialized in trauma-informed, integrative psychotherapy for adolescents and young adults, with a focus on emotional regulation, behavioral health stabilization, and recovery-oriented treatment. Her clinical approach emphasizes collaboration, family involvement, and evidence-based therapeutic practices that support long-term recovery and functional improvement.

Professional Expertise

• Individual Psychotherapy
• Group Therapy
• Family Therapy
• EMDR
• Trauma-Informed Treatment
• Substance Use Disorder Treatment
• Co-Occurring Disorders
• Young Adult Mental Health Treatment
• Adolescent Mental Health Treatment
• Residential Treatment Support
• Grief and Loss Counseling
• Emotional Regulation Skills Development
• Behavioral Health Stabilization
• Recovery-Oriented Therapy
• Family Systems Therapy
• Expressive Therapies ;Evidence-Based Psychotherapy (CBT-informed, trauma-focused approaches)

Education & Certification

• Master of Social Work (MSW), Bachelors Music Therapy
• Licensed Certified Social Worker–Clinical (LCSW-C)
• Advanced Trainer for Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Advanced Training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Professional Experience

• Laura has performed her music and storytelling in France, Italy, Morocco, Hungary, and the UK .She performed  at the Kennedy Center for 40 years and  seeks to coordinate her love of the arts with community building and outreach.
• Individual and Group Therapist & Expressive Art Facilitator, ClearView Communities (2018 – Current)
• Individual Therapist/Families and Children/Women’s Support, Center for Integrative Healthcare (2018 – Current)
• Therapist, Sagebrush Treatment Center (2016 – 2018)
• Director and Facilitator of Expressive Therapies, The Jefferson School/Sheppard Pratt Health System (1997 – 2016)
• Instructor, Shepherd University Department of Psychology (1995)
• Therapist / Social Worker, Developmental School Foundation, Foundation School of Montgomery County (1993 – 1997)

Interests

• Organic farming
• Paddling
• Textiles
• Raising goats on her farm in the country
• Animal supported therapy for that extra companionship on the journey of healing

Our mission is to create a superior therapeutic residential experience for persons with serious mental illness and co-occurring disorders. We offer a unique and comprehensive program for adults who are seeking recovery and independent living in the community.

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License No. MH-863 State of Maryland. ClearView Communities is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.