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.

In her previous work life, Lauren was a portrait photographer for 20+ years, working for large studios and community facilities. While still a lover of photography, she now enjoys exploring all things papercraft, collage and mixed media art. Lately, she has 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 with friends to Middle Eastern music or going on grand adventures somewhere in the outdoors.

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

Lauren is also on the journey of exploring her own queer identity.

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 systems 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

✨Authentic Practice with Laura Battley | 2025