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About Me
Hi, I'm Laken Doty, MSc.
Founder of Still Light Therapy
I believe healing begins with understanding.
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My work focuses on the intersection of trauma, behavior, and self-discovery. With a background in forensic psychology, I have always been fascinated by the patterns that shape human behavior and the ways our experiences influence how we think, feel, relate, and move through the world.
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Many of the people I work with find themselves asking similar questions: Why do I keep repeating the same patterns? Why do certain relationships feel so difficult to leave? Why do I understand what needs to change, yet still feel stuck? Together, we explore these questions with curiosity rather than judgment.
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My approach combines psychological insight with trauma-informed care, helping clients understand the impact of their past experiences while building greater emotional awareness, self-trust, and resilience. I believe healing is not about fixing what is broken. It is about understanding the adaptations that once helped us survive and determining whether they still serve us today.
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While my work is grounded in psychology, I also recognize that healing extends beyond thoughts alone. I incorporate body-based awareness, mindfulness, and holistic approaches when appropriate, helping clients develop a deeper connection between mind, body, and lived experience.
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My goal is to create a space where people feel safe enough to understand themselves more fully, challenge old patterns, and move forward with greater clarity, confidence, and intention.
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Because when we understand our patterns, we gain the power to change them.
My Story
Texas
South Korea
The Netherlands
Now
My story began in Texas, where I developed a deep curiosity about people, behavior, and the experiences that shape who we become.
I found myself constantly asking questions: Why do people think the way they do? What influences our choices, relationships, and sense of identity? That curiosity led me to study Psychology and Education, where I discovered a passion for both understanding people and helping them grow.
Even then, I knew my journey was only beginning. I wanted to see more of the world, learn from different perspectives, and better understand the human experience beyond my own.
That desire for growth eventually took me across the world to South Korea, where I spent three years teaching K–12 students while earning my Master's degree in Forensic Psychology.
Teaching transformed the way I understand people. Every classroom was filled with unique personalities, learning styles, challenges, and strengths. I learned that meaningful growth happens when people feel safe enough to ask questions, make mistakes, and explore new ways of seeing themselves and the world around them.
Living abroad also expanded my understanding of culture, identity, and belonging. It taught me that no matter where we come from, we all share a common desire to be understood, connected, and accepted.
Those years reinforced something I still believe today: learning is one of the most powerful tools for personal transformation.
In 2025, I moved to the Netherlands to begin a new chapter.
As an international myself, I quickly found connection within the diverse communities around me, expats, international students, immigrants, and people navigating major life transitions. I saw how many individuals were searching for community, purpose, and a place where they could simply be themselves.
Many of us are carrying questions about who we are, where we're going, and how to create a life that feels meaningful. I recognized those same questions in my own journey.
That realization inspired the creation of The Golden Thread: a space dedicated to growth, self-discovery, and authentic connection. A place where people can pause, reflect, learn, and reconnect with themselves and others.
Today, my work brings together everything that has shaped me: psychology, education, community, and a deep belief in human potential.
Through workshops, courses, community events, and meaningful conversations, I create spaces where people can better understand themselves, explore patterns in their lives, and develop the confidence to move forward with intention.
I believe growth doesn't happen because someone tells us what to do. It happens through curiosity, reflection, connection, and the willingness to keep learning about ourselves.
Still Light Therapy exists to support that journey, one conversation, one insight, and one step forward at a time.