About your therapist Lauren Fisher

Lauren (she/her) lives in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges, Wurundjeri Country, in Naarm (Melbourne), Australia, with her young adult human and elderly Siamese cat. A portrait photographer for 20+ years in her previous work life, while still a lover of photographer, she appreciates all things mixed media art, collage and papercraft. Lately, she been dabbling in a lot of creative writing, weaving and 3D mixed media wall art using nature-based objects. You will often find her with her nose in a book, dancing in her lounge room to Middle Eastern music or going on grand adventures somewhere in the outdoors. Lauren is also on the journey of exploring her own queer identity.

Lauren calls herself “a bit of Feminist Theosophical Omniest Witch”, born from her deep interest and informal self-led education in transpersonal and spiritual-based arts and modalities. Although not formally certified, her transpersonal apprach has become a popular and integral part of her therapeutic approach.

EXPERIENCE

Lauren specialises in neurodevelopmental and neurological disability care, including:

✨Autism – all levels of support needs

✨ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) - Externalised, internalised and combined types

✨Combined types of Autism and ADHD - “Autistic Fast Brains” or “AuDHD”

✨SPD - Sensory Processing Differences inc. APD - Auditory Processing Differences

✨Global Developmental Delay

✨Intellectual Impairment

✨PDA - Pathological Demand Avoidance aka “Pervasive Drive for Autonomy”

✨Learning challenges e.g dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia

✨Muscular Dystrophy

✨Alzheimer's and Dementia, inc. Frontotemporal Dementia and Aphasia

✨Tourette’s Syndrome

With extensive experience in many matters of mental ill-health and trauma-induced disability, such as:

✨Anxiety

✨Depression

✨Bipolar

✨Schizophrenia

✨Schizo-Affective Disorder

✨BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder)

✨Psychosocial Disability

✨ABI/TBI - Acquired or Traumatic Brain Injury

✨PTSD and C-PTSD

And challenging life situations such as:

✨Burnout (esp. Autistic and ADHD burnout)

✨Grief, loss and bereavement

✨Parenting and Motherhood

✨Caring for a disabled loved one

✨Family separation and divorce

✨Supporting a family member with addictions

✨Finding and maintaining a spiritual path

✨Questioning spiritual, religious, cultural or societal norms

✨Living with chronic pain

✨Medical neglect and gaslighting

✨Exploring gender and sexuality

✨Exploring a sense of self and identity

✨Challenging living situations, including homelessness and displacement from migration or seeking asylum

✨Challenges met from experiences with non-ordinary states of consciousness - spiritual, psychiatric or substance-induced

✨Historical family trauma or intergenerational trauma

✨General lack of satisfaction with life’s direction - needing guidance, inspiration and a road map to moving forward

All challenges are met through a bio-psycho-social-spiritual systematic theory lens and Social Model of Disability, with a compassionate and deeply empathetic understanding of how neurodiversity, disability, mental ill-health and adversity can more than often intersect and co-occur.

EDUCATION

✨Bachelor’s in Arts Psychotherapy (Ikon Institute of Australia)

✨Advanced Certificate in Photography (PiC)

REGISTRATION, INSURANCE AND CHECKS

✨Registered with ANZACATA (tiered level)

✨Currently finalising registrations with ACA and PACFA

✨Public Liability and Professional Indemnity Insurance with Focus

✨NDIS Check - NDIS Worker Screening Clearance

✨First Aid Level 1 Certificate

✨Working with Children’s Check

✨Police Check

SUPERVISION

Lauren continues to have 1 hour of Clinical Supervision to every 15 client contact hours.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

✨Art Therapy First Aide with Dr Carla Van Laar | 2020

✨Getting Creative with Trauma Part 2 with Dr Carla Van Laar | 2020

✨The Art of Relationship, Connection and Co-creation with Dr Carla Van Laar | 2020

✨Creative Mental Health and Self-Care Retreat with Dr Carla Van Laar | 2021

✨Yellow Ladybugs Conference: Supporting Autistic Girls/Gender Diverse Youth | 2023, 2024.

✨Tending to the Therapist Within with Laura Battley | 2024