About Me
Hello, My Name is Natalie…
Founder/CEO
Born and raised in Lafayette, LA, I am the oldest in a large Southern family. Although my professional dreams in adolescence and early adulthood was to become the next Oprah, the journey towards my purpose took a different route when I was introduced to youth work. I quickly realized that working with children and adolescents was my life’s purpose. For over 12 years, I served children, pregnant teenagers and teen mothers who were in the custody of the State of Louisiana. There, I cultivated my knowledge on the development of whole child while dealing with the hard reality of the adverse childhood experiences that negatively impacted their growth.
After 13 years of working as a Residential Case Manager and Behavioral Modification Specialist, I returned to college and graduated with my Masters in Social Work at Louisiana State University in 2013. Since, I have committed to advocating for children, their families, and adults who serve them in a variety of child-centered settings. My experience includes a variety of settings, from inpatient hospitalization to individual, couple and family therapy in the community. Being able to support people across the life spectrum is an awe-inspiring experience. In 2020, after years of licensed social work, I determined to build something that would touch the lives of children and youth while supporting the community through mental health education and support. That year, Thrive Therapy was born.
Focused on the mental health needs of children and young adults, the main goal of Thrive Therapy is to provide our clients with optimal care. We work with ages 5 to 25, primarily, as we prioritize the reality of development from birth to emerging adulthood. Our approach is highly relational and multifaceted. As a pediatric mental health practice, we are also a neurodivergent-allied firm who works closely with families of autistic and ADHD children. Exploring challenges that impacts children such as early childhood trauma, school anxiety, separation/divorce, we build strong rapport with our clients as we walk the difficult journey towards healing. Understanding the power of healthy connection is a vital tool for mental and emotional health. Being a part of the journey has been humbling and rewarding.
We are so excited to offer Thrive Therapy to you! I truly believe that we all possess the courage to take the step towards wellness. Thank you for allowing us to walk alongside you on this journey.