I might like to laugh, but I also take my work very seriously. I love what I do, and I work very hard to provide the highest quality of care a client can receive. I pride myself on professionalism in accordance with the highest standards of ethics, codes of conduct, and treatment methods. I have years of experience working in behavioral or mental health hospitals in Texas and Illinois where I've worked in just about every type of setting, with just about every type of issue, and with just about every population: Adults, teenagers, men, women, couples, and families. Through it all, I have noticed that even some of the most distraught patients often respond very favorably to my positive approach.
I practice cognitive-behavioral therapy or CBT for short. It’s a well-established discipline that research has shown to be highly effective in treating a wide variety of mental illnesses, including depression, anxiety, mood disorders such as Bipolar disorder, personality disorders, eating disorders, alcoholism, substance abuse and addiction. I simply combine this CBT approach with elements of laughter therapy, humor, improv, and all-around positivity to create a unique therapeutic experience.
I have a master’s degree in Counseling from the University of North Texas, the best counseling program in Texas and one of the best in the country where I graduated with a perfect 4.0 GPA. Before that I was a professional radio news broadcaster in Austin and Dallas. In 2005 I won the award for Best Newscast in Texas from the Texas Associated Press Broadcasters Association. I got my Bachelor’s Degree in Radio-Television-Film from the University of Texas at Austin where I made the Dean’s List and University Honors. Over the years, I was a National Hispanic Merit Scholar and a Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholarship recipient.
I have worked as a therapist, case manager, and supervisor at various hospitals, and I have even run entire hospital units, managing other therapists and case managers. I have worked at just about every level of care: Inpatient, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, assisted living, and outpatient private practice. I am a proud member of the American Counseling Association as well as the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor.
Even in a fast-paced, intense environment like a hospital, patients would often request me by name or give positive feedback to me such as:
“You are my favorite therapist.”
“You always bring a smile to my face.”
“I love your positivity and humor. It’s infectious.”
“With you, therapy is actually fun.”
It’s feedback like that that really helped show me how important it was to create a different kind of therapy center. It shouldn't be a radical idea, but I believe good therapy can be fun and enjoyable as well as helpful and professional. That’s what I’m about. That’s what Upside Wellness is about.
Lane Ingram, M.Ed., Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
Illinois License # 180.008826, Texas LPC Licensure Pending as of 8/28/14