Ready to Start a New Chapter?

Hi there!

I am Lara Steel.

I am a Registered Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), a Doctoral Candidate, and I hold a Masters Degree in Psychology.

With 20 years of experience in both private and community settings, I understand that there is no such thing as a human who doesn’t need support sometimes. My role is not to dictate your life choices, but to help you navigate them. I believe you are the expert on your own experience, thoughts, and feelings. My goal is to offer you a safe space, a listening ear, and access to the scientific research to help you get where you want to be.

My Approach

I view therapy as a collaboration where you run the show. We move at your pace, aiming to understand the root of your current struggles and logically structuring a path forward. I focus on helping you understand your internal and external world in the context of relevant scientific research, so you can build a personal "toolkit" of coping strategies, ensuring you feel equipped to weather life's storms and remain in control of your own emotional landscape.

My therapeutic framework is grounded in evidence-based models, which I tailor to your unique needs:

Schema Therapy: To help us understand the blueprints and patterns you have built of yourself and the world.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): To explore your internal self-talk, interpretations, and how they influence your actions.

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT): To focus on practical skills for self-soothing and distress tolerance when trying new strategies.

Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET): A highly structured and evidence based treatment for PTSD that helps reduce the distress associated with past events.

Background & Qualifications

I bring a diverse perspective to my practice, holding qualifications not only in Psychology, Counselling and Forensic Sexology, but also Organisational Psychology and Business Administration.

Registration: AHPRA Registered Psychologist

Education: Doctoral Candidate, Masters of Applied Psychology, Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)

Memberships: Australian Association of Psychologists inc (MAAPi)