Compass Center Therapist's Retreat

Laura Cassidy, LPCC-S, is a licensed therapist, EMDR-certified clinician, and Certified Dialectical Behavior Therapy (C-DBT) provider who owns and operates Cassidy Counseling LLC in Frankfort, Kentucky. She specializes in working with anxiety, trauma, and emotional dysregulation through an integrative approach that blends evidence-based practices with holistic wellness. Laura incorporates DBT, EMDR, mindfulness, and nervous system-focused interventions, along with yoga and movement-based practices to support clients in reconnecting with their bodies and creating meaningful change. In addition to her clinical work, she teaches yoga within the local jail system and collaborates with community organizations to develop and implement mental health and wellness programming. As a DBT program director and yoga teacher, Laura is passionate about offering experiential, body-based work that goes beyond traditional talk therapy and into real-life application.

Kimberly LaFollette, PsyD., is a clinical psychologist and the founder of As You Are Education and Retreats. Dr. LaFollette holds a deep commitment to educating and supporting healers and helpers. After decades of teaching graduate and undergraduate students in higher education, Dr. LaFollette was called to create a space that goes beyond academia-to build a community designed to nurture the educational, emotional and spiritual growth of all of those who have dedicated their lives to the healing and helping of others.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW, LISW-S) and the founder and owner of Phoenix Soaring Counseling, a growing group practice serving Kentucky and Ohio centered on creating spaces where people feel safe enough to be real.

I work with individuals navigating trauma, foster care and adoption, and a wide range of complex life experiences, with a strong commitment to supporting and advocating for marginalized communities. I also supervise and support clinicians and host interns from local colleges, helping them grow into their voice and confidence in this work.

I care deeply about creating spaces where people can be real, because that’s where change happens. My passion and goal in life is building something that supports both the people we serve and the clinicians doing the work.

Joshua Fraley is a Pediatric Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner based in Lexington, Ky with HealthFirst Bluegrass. He has a passion for the outdoors, nutrition, fitness, adventure sports, and how these contribute to overall well-being and mental health. In addition, Joshua has a strong interest and background in philosophy, religion, and history, which contribute to his belief that the best approach to mental health is holistic, emphasizing lifestyle, environment, and the pursuit of meaning.

I am a clinical social worker and I provide therapy services for neurodivergent individuals of all ages. In the past, I worked in sales and marketing, but I pivoted my career following the 2020 pandemic. I became a therapist because a therapist gave me the tools to see my true potential and I strive to be that person for my clients. You can almost always find me with a skein of yarn and a variety of crochet hooks close by. I enjoy all things arts and crafts and spend most of my free time practicing them. I am also an avid treasure hunter; I love to pick through an estate sale or thrift store!

I was born and raised in Henderson, Kentucky and settled in Lexington after attending and graduating from UK with a BA in psychology in 1988. I immediately began teaching secondary social studies in Fayette County Public School and earned an MA in secondary curriculum and instruction in 1995 and later became a high school associate principal after earning a Rank I in educational leadership in 2009. Upon retirement in 2020 I pursued a masters in clinical mental health counseling from EKU and graduated in 2023. Since then, I have been working at Counseling Associates of Lexington providing services in-office and by telehealth to adults, and on-site in Fayette County Public School to students. I have been married since 1988 and have two adult children. My interests include fitness, computer gaming, and anything outdoors especially hiking.