Meet Lauren Strine

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lauren Strine and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
In 2018, when I returned to work after having my first son, I felt completely overwhelmed trying to balance the demands of new parenthood with the structure of a full-time office job. Before going on maternity leave, I had been told I could have some flexibility in my schedule when I returned, and while I was on maternity leave, I thought a lot about that being an option, and whether I wanted to take advantage of it, even if it would mean less money. But just a few weeks into being back—and white-knuckling it through my days—I asked about that flexible schedule, only to learn the offer was no longer on the table. I felt incredibly unsupported.

That was really the turning point for me. I realized I couldn’t keep going the way things were—I didn’t have a single bit of margin left in my week, and it just wasn’t sustainable. So I made the decision to leave that job and start my own private practice. It was scary, but it also gave me the chance to create the balance I needed for myself and my family, and to build the kind of supportive space I wished I’d had as a new mom—one where women can be honest about how hard it is without feeling judged.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
When I first launched my practice, I immediately poured myself into getting specialized training in perinatal mental health. I knew I wanted to create a space focused on supporting women through the reproductive journey—preconception, pregnancy, postpartum—as well as the broader emotional complexities of motherhood, identity shifts, grief, and burnout. From the start, I wanted to create a space that centers women’s experiences, honors their voices, and challenges the ways society—especially patriarchal systems—often minimizes their expertise in their own lives.

What sets my work apart is the intentional, collaborative, and compassion-driven space I create for each client. Therapy with me is about actively exploring your story, often starting with family-of-origin work to understand how you were wired early on, what coping strategies you may have developed that no longer serve you, and how to create or nurture strategies that support your mental health in the particular stage of life you’re in now.

I’m most proud of what I’ve built over the past seven years: a practice that gives women a steady, nonjudgmental, and empowering space to prioritize their own needs and growth. I love helping clients navigate emotionally intense seasons of life, build resilience, and develop self-compassion. In today’s political and cultural climate, it’s more critical than ever to have a space where women are believed and supported. Through this work, I hope to contribute to a broader movement of equity, empowerment, and cultural change in how we support women.

Along the way, I’ve learned the importance of trusting my instincts. One of the highlights of being my own boss is that it allows me to listen closely to my intuition about the “what’s next” and “when” questions. This is something I talk to my clients about all the time—reminding them that they don’t need to follow anyone else’s timeline, and that they need to stop “should-ing” on themselves. Growth is messy and if it’s authentic at all, it’s not going to be linear. We don’t have to be growing on anyone else’s timeline; we just need to be honest with ourselves about what our own needs are.

I recently rebranded my practice as Wildflower Root Therapy to capture the heart of my approach. Like wildflowers, women can thrive in unexpected or challenging conditions. By cultivating strong roots—like self-awareness, self-compassion and connection—they can bloom fully, showing up in life with courage and clarity.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My side hustle is that my husband and I actually own and rent out two short-term rental properties, so we get to give suggestions all the time about where to eat and where to visit in Atlanta. We would absolutely go see a show at the Fox (so excited for SIX the Musical, coming next Spring!) and we’d do a lot of walking (obviously the Beltline, but also through Inman Park and Morningside, my two favorite neighborhoods for gawking at houses). Atlanta shines in the outdoor dining scene, and a few favorites are Poor Hendrix in East Lake, Banshee in EAV, Tio Lucho’s in Poncey-Highland, and breakfast at Ria’s Bluebird and Sun in My Belly. And lots of coffee all around town: The Daily, Perc, and Taproom are a few favorites.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’m so grateful for my professors at Fuller Seminary, who taught me how to do excellent clinical work while thoughtfully exploring the integration of faith and mental health. Even though I’m not a Christian counselor, I approach my work with the belief that, as a follower of Jesus, I am called to the work of restoration in the world. I don’t bring up God in sessions—clients bring their own faith into therapy if it’s meaningful to them—but I do work from a place of helping people move toward healing and restoration. My professors modeled how to do this thoughtfully, with respect for wherever a person is coming from spiritually.

Website: https://www.wildflowerroottherapy.com

Instagram: therapycanhelp

Image Credits
Shekeidra Booker with S. Marchea Photography