Laura is a registered Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist with over 20 years’ experience working within the NHS and in private practice. Laura’s NHS-funded, doctoral level training of six years and personal analysis throughout, has given her a deep understanding of herself, others, and the complexities of the inner world. Child and adolescent psychotherapy is unique in its exclusive focus on working with children and young people (0-25) and their families, using the insights of psychoanalysis to explore and address the underlying emotional and psychological causes of difficulties.

Laura  has since worked in a variety of roles and settings including specialist services like Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), Early Intervention in Psychosis Services (EIP) and Family Assessment and Safeguarding Services (FASS). She has particular expertise in supporting young people through Adoption Support Services and consulting to foster care agencies and children’s homes. Laura has further specialist knowledge within an education setting, having created and managed alternative education programs for young people at risk of exclusion from school. Laura has worked for many years with Women’s Aid, running seminars and conferences on supporting young people affected by domestic violence. She previously managed an ex-offender hostel creating a supportive environment and exploring life skills with residents that may prevent re-offending. Laura works as an Expert Witness to the Family Courts.

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Throughout her extensive experience, Laura has supported children, young people, and families facing a range of mental health challenges, and is dedicated to helping them find understanding, healing and lasting change. Laura is a compassionate, warm and non-judgemental therapist. Her approach seeks to look beneath the surface of difficult emotions, behaviours and relationships to help children, adolescents and their families to understand themselves and their struggles. Through careful observation and exploration in a session, a lot can be understood about what a child or young person might be communicating non-verbally through their behaviour and play. By carefully exploring disturbing thoughts and feelings within the relationship with children and young people, Laura helps them to make sense of their experiences. Confused, frightened, hurt, angry or painful feelings can gradually be put into words rather than actions. As a result, a child can begin to express their emotions in helpful and adaptive ways and start to return to the ordinary process of child development. They are likely to feel less anxious, more able to learn and better equipped to sustain relationships in the family and external world.

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