MSW, LCSW

Lena is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the states of North Carolina and Colorado, specializing in providing trauma-informed care to children, youth, and families. Lena has worked with clients struggling with depression, anxiety, mood disorders, behavioral concerns, trauma, ASD, and early psychosis. Additionally, she has significant experience supporting families through the education and IEP system. Lena provides Animal Assisted Therapy with her therapy dog Cleo as a support for clients in the office.

Lena graduated from the University of Denver with her Masters in Social Work in 2022, where she received additional training in animal-assisted, experiential, and school social work. Lena is also a certified practitioner of TBRI (Trust Based Relationship Intervention), which is an attachment based modality that helps parents/caregivers to improve relationships and build connections and trust. Lena’s training in TBRI aids in her ability to provide and teach trauma-informed and attachment-based care to clients and caregivers.

Lena specializes not only in work with children and teenagers but also in work with parents individually to support their children, improve the parent/child relationship and assist with difficult behavior issues that families may be experiencing. Lena frequently works with parents individually and can provide this specialized support for parents at the same time as a child is receiving play therapy services from another therapist. This model assists families in getting their needs met and supports the entire family.

Ms. Schulte is currently working towards becoming a Registered Play Therapist by training in play based therapies under the supervision of Sara Bagramian, LCSW, RPT-S. Lena incorporates several modalities, including play therapy, art/music-based interventions, experiential/nature-based therapy, mindfulness, in addition to TF-CBT, Animal Assisted Therapy and DBT for teens and adults.

Lena began her career working in the public school and child welfare system, as well as volunteering extensively in equine-assisted therapy centers. She then transitioned into a role as a school social worker at an acute day treatment center for kids aged five to fourteen. Lena believes that while therapy can be hard work, it should also be enjoyable, safe, and child-led. She works hard to meet children and families where they are and create an environment where all feel seen, valued, and heard.

When she is not working, you can find her hanging out with her therapy dog Cleo, reading a good book, hiking, playing games with friends, or scoping out a local farmers market.

Lena joined the OCC team in late summer, 2025 and currently has a waitlist for children ages 2+, teenagers and parents.