Lauren Ivy Sieja, LCSW-S earned her B.A. in sociology from Texas A&M University in 2009.  She earned her Master of Science in Social Work with a concentration in Community and Administrative Leadership from The University of Texas at Austin in 2014. Lauren is a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) Candidate in the DSW program at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFASU) School of Social Work with an anticipated graduation date of December 2025.

Beginning with her practicum in 2012, Lauren worked as a school social worker for eight years in several school districts, including Nacogdoches ISD. ​Beginning with her practicum in 2012, Lauren worked as a school social worker for eight years in several school districts, including Nacogdoches ISD.  Lauren loved being a school social worker because it was the perfect intersection of clinical work with individuals and groups, community outreach, policy creation and implementation, and program development and evaluation. During her time as a school social worker, Lauren realized her love of facilitating the healing and growth of children, especially pre-teens, adolescents, and young adults. 

Lauren has worked as a therapist in private practice for several years. Lauren believes that relationships are the foundation of therapy and approaches sessions by meeting people where they are and using a trauma-responsive, non-judgmental lens. Lauren has had the honor of working with folks of all ages experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, adjustment issues, life changes, grief, and trauma. She specializes in working with adolescents, young adults, perinatal moms, stressed parents, and caregivers. Lauren has specialized training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), and Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT).

Lauren also serves as an Adjunct Professor at SFASU School of Social Work in the Master of Social Work program and .  Through lectures, experiential activities, small group discussions, student presentations, modeling of social work skills, Lauren’s focus is on helping students understand the real-world applications of what they learn. Within the context of the program and student learning outcomes, Lauren utilizes a constructivist learning approach to create a space where students can construct their own learning based on the goals they have for themselves as future social workers.
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Lauren is licensed by the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (#59857). She is also a board-approved clinical supervisor.  Lauren is an active member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the Council on Social Work Education. She is the chair of the board for an organization called Better Together, and is involved in establishing an anti-hunger coalition in Nacogdoches County. She has previously served as the Region 7 Board Member for the National Association of Social Workers Texas Chapter and as an Advisory Board member for the Lone Star Victims Advocacy Project and Burke Systems of Care.  

​Born and raised in Nacogdoches, Lauren was excited to move home in 2016. She loves eating chips and queso, enjoys being active outdoors, gardening, cooking, spending time with friends, watching TV, and savors the time she spends with her husband and three kids.