Hi, I’m Laurel!
Laurel Crawford, MS, BC-DMT, is a board-certified dance/movement therapist at Austin Dance Therapy. She completed her undergraduate education at the University of Texas at Austin and earned her Master of Science from Pratt Institute in 2011. Her approach brings together talk therapy, dance/movement therapy, mindfulness, breathwork, creative expression, and somatic practices to support a deeper connection between mind and body. Grounded in curiosity, compassion, and a therapeutic relationship built on trust and respect, Laurel helps adults navigate grief, trauma, life transitions, and relationship challenges while strengthening self-trust and reconnecting with their own inner wisdom. Through individual, couples, and group work, she creates space for healing, personal growth, and a greater sense of feeling at home in your body. Laurel makes her home in Austin with her two sons. Outside her practice, she enjoys spending time on the Greenbelt and playing percussion with Austin Samba, bringing her love of rhythm, movement, and connection into everyday life.
My Approach
My work brings together the body, mind, and creative process. I approach therapy with curiosity and compassion, supporting you in deepening your connection with yourself and others.
Connecting body and mind
I integrate talk therapy with dance/movement therapy, breathwork, mindfulness, and somatic practices. Together, we can explore your experience through conversation, movement, and creative expression, creating more ways to understand what you feel and connect with yourself.
A relationship rooted in trust
You are the expert in your own experience. As trust develops in our work together, I offer compassionate witnessing, support, and gentle challenges that invite reflection. My approach is relational: the connection we build is part of the therapeutic process.
Rebuilding self-trust and choice
Trauma, abuse, marginalization, and systemic oppression can affect our trust in ourselves. I support you in rebuilding that trust in your body, expanding the choices available to you, and exploring how you relate to yourself and others. My work is grounded in respect for your experience and a commitment to liberation.
Making room for grief, creativity, and joy
I support adults navigating individual loss, collective grief, and life transitions. Alongside difficult experiences, our work can make room for creative expression, growth, and cultivating joy and pleasure in your body. My hope is to help you feel more connected, more compassionate toward yourself, and more at home in your body.