Welcome to Serene Minds Therapy
A space to understand yourself, your past and your relationships
About Me...
Hello, I'm Lauren
I'm an integrative psychotherapist at Serene Minds Therapy.
I offer a warm, non-judgemental space for adults to explore their experiences, understand difficult emotions and make sense of patterns that may be affecting their relationships and wellbeing.
I'm particularly interested in how our early experiences can shape the way we see ourselves, relate to others and navigate the challenges of adulthood, including parenting.
Choosing a therapist is a personal decision, and it's important to find someone you feel comfortable talking to.
I'm an integrative psychotherapist, and I believe therapy offers an opportunity to slow down, make sense of our experiences and begin to understand ourselves in a deeper way.
Sometimes, the difficulties we experience in adulthood are connected to earlier experiences, relationships or ways we've learned to cope. These patterns can influence how we see ourselves, how we relate to others and how we respond when life feels overwhelming.
My approach is warm, collaborative and non-judgemental. I aim to offer a space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings at your own pace, without feeling that you need to have everything figured out before you begin.
I work with adults experiencing a range of difficulties, including anxiety, low self-esteem, relationship challenges and the lasting effects of difficult early experiences. I'm particularly interested in helping people develop a greater understanding of themselves and the patterns that may no longer be serving them.
I hold a BSc in Psychology with Honours, an MSc in Psychology and I am a registered member of the BACP.
I understand that taking the first step towards therapy can feel daunting. That's why I offer a free 20-minute introductory call, giving us an opportunity to talk about what you're looking for and whether working together feels right for you.
How I work with you
A collaborative, compassionate approach to understanding yourself
I believe that therapy is about more than finding ways to manage difficult feelings. It's also an opportunity to understand yourself more deeply, explore your experiences and make sense of the patterns that may be affecting your life and relationships. As an integrative psychotherapist, I recognise that everyone has their own story. There is no single approach that works for everyone, so I draw on different therapeutic perspectives to help us find an approach that feels right for you.
The Therapeutic Relationship
At the heart of my work is the relationship we build together. I aim to offer a warm, empathetic and non-judgemental space where you can feel comfortable exploring your thoughts and feelings, including those that might be difficult to share elsewhere. You don't need to have everything worked out before coming to therapy, and there is no expectation that you'll know exactly where to begin. We'll work together at a pace that feels manageable for you.
Understanding Your Experiences and Patterns
Our past experiences can influence how we see ourselves, how we relate to others and how we respond to difficult situations. Sometimes, patterns that once helped us cope can become challenging as our circumstances change.
Therapy can offer an opportunity to explore these experiences and develop a greater understanding of why certain feelings or situations affect us as they do. This might involve looking at early relationships, exploring recurring patterns, understanding emotional triggers or finding different ways to respond to challenges in the present.
An Integrative Approach
My work has a person-centred foundation, meaning that your experiences, needs and goals remain central to our work together. I also draw on psychodynamic ideas to explore how earlier experiences may influence the present, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to examine the connections between thoughts, feelings and behaviours, and Transactional Analysis to explore relationship patterns and ways of relating to ourselves and others. We can draw on these perspectives as appropriate to your individual needs, rather than following a rigid, one-size-fits-all approach.
Working Towards Change
Therapy isn't about changing who you are or judging the ways you've learned to cope. It's about creating space to understand yourself, recognise what may no longer be helpful and explore different ways of relating to yourself and others.
The process looks different for everyone. We can work towards greater self-awareness, explore difficult emotions, develop coping strategies and build a clearer understanding of what you need moving forward.
Throughout our work, I'll aim to support you with empathy, curiosity and respect for your individual experiences.