Author profile
Laura Copley

Laura Copley, Ph.D.

Trauma Therapist, Author, & Speaker Laura Copley, Ph.D., is a trauma therapist, international speaker, & author of relationship self-help book "Loving You is Hurting Me."
My Top Specialties and Expertise
  • Complex trauma
  • Relationship issues
  • Self-trust

About Laura

Dr. Laura Copley is a distinguished licensed counselor and an acclaimed expert in relationship trauma and Post-Traumatic Growth.

Laura runs a clinical practice where she specializes in trauma bonds, toxic relationships, and reigniting your self-trust. She is also the author of the groundbreaking book “Loving You is Hurting Me: A New Approach to Healing Trauma Bonds and Creating Authentic Connection,” the only trade book written by a practicing trauma-informed therapist that not only addresses ways to heal complex trauma but also teaches readers how to cultivate positive transformation.

As the host of the popular podcast “Tough Love with Dr. Laura Copley,” she engages listeners with deep dives into emotional resilience and recovery.

Dr. Copley’s academic and professional endeavors have positioned her as a leading voice in the field, reaching a global audience with her insights into overcoming relational challenges through transformative healing.

In her downtime, she enjoys fire dancing, music festivals, and spending time on her riverfront farmette with her children, chickens, and dogs.

A Personal Message From Laura

Trauma fractures self-trust. But as we journey through our pain, we discover our unbreakable core that we can harness, not just to mend, but to also create a life woven with deep connection and possibility.

Work Experience

  • 2015 – current: Founder, Supervisor, and Counselor – Aurora Counseling & Well-Being, a trauma-informed private practice and training clinic for therapists also wanting to become trauma-informed.
  • 2011 – 2015: Counselor and Clinic Supervisor – Penn State CEDAR Clinic, a counseling center for clients and training Masters-level clinicians
  • 2007 – 2012: Counselor – Family Preservation Services

First- and Second-Author Publications

  • Author of “Loving you is hurting me: A new approach to healing trauma bonds and creating authentic connection.” (link)
  • Copley, L. A., & Daniels, A. D. (2023). How friendship predicts post-traumatic growth in emerging adults. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 44(2), 357–374.
  • Copley, L. A., & Carney, J. (2020). Using Gestalt techniques to promote meaning making in trauma survivors. Journal of Humanistic Counseling, 59.
  • Copley, L. A. (2015). Perceptions of corrective interpersonal experiences in promoting post-traumatic growth in a sample of college students [Doctoral dissertation, Penn State University].

Laura Copley, Ph.D.

Trauma Therapist, Author, & Speaker

Education

  • Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision
  • Masters in Counseling

Expertise

  • Trauma bonding
  • Toxic relationships
  • Post-traumatic growth
  • Spirituality
  • Self-actualization
  • Emotional intelligence
  • Inner child work
  • Self-growth

Experience

  • Founder of a Trauma-Focused Group Practice
  • Self-Help Author
  • Researcher on Complex Trauma and Post-Traumatic Growth
  • Trauma Educator
  • International Speaker on Self-Trust
My mission is to remind people that true trauma healing lies in rediscovering self-trust—the power to navigate life’s beauty and pain with grace, grit, and deep emotional wisdom.
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