Lauren Bakker

‘she/her’

PSYCHOTHERAPIST AND COUNSELLOR

On parental leave

 

Qualifications

  • Member of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA)

  • Bachelor of Psychological Science and Bachelor of Arts

  • Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Practice

  • Master of Mental Health Practice (Psychotherapy), University of Queensland

Hello there. I was drawn to working in the psychotherapy field to be able to support people through their journeys with deep compassion and an unconditional positive regard. I believe that therapy is for everyone, even when it may seem to you as though there is nothing ‘wrong’. You may want to connect with a therapist to unpack something that’s been on your mind or simply to feel more well, and I am here to meet you in that place of safety and exploration. As your therapist, I will support you to gain some inner clarity, awareness, to navigate your emotions and distress, to be able to improve your overall well-being, and to find a sense of ease and joy in life.

As we move through the world, and we learn, attach to caregivers, create connections, and form schemas, sometimes we pick up unhelpful subconscious patterns, core beliefs, and negative automatic thoughts along the way. This experience is purely human (I myself have worked through ‘unlearning’ some unhelpful thinking patterns), so I believe in a transdiagnostic approach in which I work with individuals holistically. This means that we are able to look at your story and experiences with curiosity instead of with a lens of judgement, as you go through your therapy process with lots of opportunities for reflection and growth along the way. As a psychotherapist, my focus is on working with people from a relational, long-term framework, and exploring your concerns through the lens of unconscious and patterned ways of thinking and feeling, to develop increased self-awareness and understanding. We can do this together by creating a language or narrative around how you experience the world, which is compassionate and validating, while also being able to move forward through that story to create positive change.

My style of therapy is very relaxed and approachable, while being gentle, supportive, and offering genuine compassion and care. I am always mindful that ‘recovery’ and a full, enriching life looks different for everyone, and will endeavour to create a collaborative, reflective, non-judgmental, nurturing, strengths-based, trauma-informed space for you to express yourself. When building skills, I draw upon tangible interventions stemming from Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Polyvagal Theory and Schema Therapy. I have worked with complex and diverse populations, and welcome anyone from culturally and linguistically diverse, LGBTQIAP+ or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations to feel safe and supported with me.

Some of the concerns I am passionate about working on are:

  • Complex and developmental trauma

  • Childhood issues, including childhood sexual abuse

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Low self worth

  • Unrelenting standards or perfectionist traits

  • Borderline Personality Disorder

  • Attachment and relationship issues

  • Domestic or family violence

  • Chronic pain management

  • Grief

  • Suicide ideation and self harm

My sincere hope is to make you feel less alone through this process. I feel honoured to be on this journey in therapy with you, and hold such privilege in being able to hear your unique story and goals. I look forward to working with you at Little Window.