MEET OUR TEAM

Photo By Kelsey Winnike © 2022

At CIC, we know the importance of finding a therapist who is a good fit. We invite you to learn more about each of our therapists and contact us for a free 15-minute consultation to see how we might work together.

Caitlin West

  • Caitlin West is a licensed clinical social worker who has spent the past 15 years in medical social work. Caitlin's advanced training in intensive care social work and her clinical expertise in women's cancers and solid organ transplant have given her a unique understanding and insight into the patient and family experience with chronic and serious illness.

    Caitlin earned a bachelor's degree in child and adolescent development at California State University, Northridge. She earned a master's degree in social work from the University of Southern California. She completed a post-master's fellowship in pediatric intensive care at Stanford Children's Health. Caitlin has worked in intensive care units, emergency rooms, outpatient clinics, and infusion centers throughout the bay area.

    Caitlin specializes in individual therapy, caregiver support, healthcare navigation, and family consultations. In addition, her background in child and adolescent development serves for those seeking guidance on how to talk with children about serious illnesses. Caitlin also enjoys and is honored to provide clinical supervision to those working toward licensure.

    Caitlin's approach to clinical therapy is rooted in an authentic and meaningful connection to self and others. She works to help clients cultivate the innate wisdom the body holds to help restore balance in difficult times. Caitlin allows clients to safely explore their relationship with fear, uncertainty, control, grief and loss, and undoubtedly hope. Caitlin's style is warm, compassionate, honest, and direct. Caitlin is known for her authenticity and use of humor in her work.

    Caitlin's practice is client-centered, solution-focused, and anchored in a strengths-based approach, drawing on an individual's inner resources. Caitlin uniquely weaves concepts and threads from Trauma-Focused, Humanistic, Grief, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). In addition, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction is a cornerstone of Caitlin's work with clients.

    Caitlin founded CIC to bring support, understanding, and healing to those living with or impacted by a chronic or serious illness. Through her work at CIC, Caitlin strives to help clients feel understood, less isolated, empowered, and safely able to examine the lessons that illness has to offer us. By putting more pieces of this puzzle we call life together, Caitlin knows that meaningful change, connection, and balance are possible.

    Caitlin offers Individual Therapy, Family Consultations, Caregiver Support, Healthcare Navigation and Clinical Supervision

Lauren Brenner

  • Lauren Brenner is a licensed clinical social worker who has dedicated the past decade to supporting adults and their families going through a cancer experience. Lauren earned her bachelor's degree in comparative sociology from the University of Puget Sound and received her master's in social welfare from UCLA. Over the last ten years, Lauren has created a specialty practice focused on the intersection of the psychological, behavioral, and social experiences surrounding cancer. Lauren has extensive experience working with adults in outpatient health settings and inpatient hospitalizations, and her work has balanced large academic medical centers with smaller community-based health clinics. Lauren has regularly worked with parents and families on discussing serious illness with children and facilitating clients' adjustment to a cancer diagnosis.

    Lauren holds advanced certification as an Oncology Social Worker (OSW-C) from the National Board of Oncology Social Work and has completed advanced training in palliative care education and practices from the UCSF Department of Palliative Medicine. She has also completed coursework in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction from the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health and strives to draw from all these specialty practices with her clients as appropriate. Lauren works primarily from the behavior-based therapy models of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) while often leaning on the principles and techniques of mindfulness practice in her work with clients.

    Lauren's approach to clinical therapy is built on the belief that everyone handles serious illness differently, and all processes are valid. Still, the common thread is the desire to be seen, understood, and supported through a process that is oftentimes complex and evolving. Lauren works from a strengths-based, client-driven approach that focuses on empowering her clients to explore, understand and honor themselves through the process. Her style is warm, interactive, and engaged, as she understands the significant honor and responsibility of supporting those going through serious illness.

    Through her work at Compassionate Integrative Counseling, Lauren strives to allow her clients a safe space to fully discover, realize and engage with their thoughts and feelings, so that they may find groundedness and meaning in their experience.

    Lauren offers Individual Therapy, Family Consultations, Caregiver Support, and Clinical Supervision.