Larissa Lau, AASW

Larissa Lau (who prefers to be called Lara) supports people facing stress, anxiety, depression and trauma. She also helps with low self-esteem, grief and major life changes. Lara works with a focus on ageing and geriatric issues alongside relationship and identity concerns. She practises as an AASW social worker in Australia and brings ten years of clinical experience to sessions.

In conversation she aims for a practical, collaborative style. Sessions focus on small, doable steps and clear goals. Lara helps people notice patterns, try new ways of coping, and check what works in everyday life. She keeps language plain and avoids jargon so people leave with concrete ideas to use between sessions.

Lara draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques and combines them to suit each person. She often uses cognitive behaviour strategies to find and change unhelpful thinking. She may work with parts of experience to help when feelings feel divided or overwhelming.

Somatic approaches and mindfulness are part of her toolkit for anchoring the body when anxiety or trauma memories arise. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ideas help people clarify values and take steps that matter to them. Clinical hypnotherapy is another option she may discuss when it fits a person’s goals.

Sessions are collaborative and paced to each person’s needs. Lara welcomes questions and will outline practical steps and homework when helpful. She encourages people to try one or two changes between meetings and review how those steps felt at the next session.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online work

Many of the methods Lara uses are practical and adaptable to remote conversations. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviours; it suits problems such as anxiety, panic and depression by breaking issues into manageable steps. Parts work or ego state approaches help people name and talk with different aspects of their experience when feelings feel fragmented or conflicted, which can be useful for trauma and relationship wounds.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapy process. Lara works collaboratively to test methods and pick what fits a person’s needs, goals and preferences. She will suggest ways to try techniques between sessions and review what helped, so the plan evolves together.

The original profile does not list specific online formats, so confirm current session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when days are tight. It also lets people use visual tools, worksheets and guided exercises in-session, and to practise techniques in real-world settings between meetings.