Lauren is a clinical psychologist with diverse experience across hospital, residential, youth and community mental health settings.
Meet Lauren Kirkwood
Lauren has worked with people of all ages, from infants to older adults, and is especially experienced in supporting adults with complex and enduring mental health challenges.
Alongside her private practice, Lauren continues to work in the public mental health sector, supporting adults in short-term residential care to recover from a recent crisis, transition from hospital-based care, or when needing more support than is available at home.
In all aspects of her work, Lauren seeks to build compassionate, meaningful connections with people to understand their unique perspectives and struggles.
She seeks to create a space that fosters safety and trust through deep listening and reflection. Lauren approaches therapy with curiosity to understand deeper core issues and entrenched patterns that give rise to suffering.
Outside of work, Lauren enjoys soaking up the natural beauty of the Mornington Peninsula with lots of time spent at the beach, practising yoga and self-nurturing, and enjoying quieter moments at home with her treasured cat, Winkie.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Anthropology)
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours) (Psychology)
- Master of Clinical Psychology
- AHPRA registered psychologist with endorsement in clinical psychology
- Trained EMDR therapist
Therapeutic approaches
Lauren offers integrative psychotherapy for adolescents and adults across a wide range of mental health needs. Her approach is down-to-earth, deeply relational and trauma-informed.
Lauren draws on a range of evidence-based modalities tailored to your needs and preferences to support meaningful personal change.
These include:
- Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
- Mindfulness-based Approaches
- Body-Based and Somatic Approaches
- Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)
- Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Principles (DBT)
Areas of interest
- Complex trauma and post-traumatic stress
- Psychosis
- Relationship difficulties, patterns of relating with oneself and others
- Eating disorders, body image concerns, and self-worth
- Personality disorders and vulnerabilities
- Depression, anxiety, and recurrent mood disorders
- Longer-term therapy to foster a deeper understanding of the self, healing, and personal growth
- Group psychotherapy
Availability
Tuesdays and Thursdays – in-person and via Telehealth.
Contact
Email: lauren@woodwalk.com.au
Phone: 0493 383 574
Clinical Psychologist