About
Lauren Bernard (she/her)
Psychotherapeutic Counsellor (MBACP (Accred), UKCP registered)
Hello — if you are feeling down or stuck, wanting to understand yourself better, or make meaning of your experiences — perhaps I could help.
I support people who are struggling emotionally or hoping to make sense of things. I am trained, qualified, and registered (BACP, UKCP) to offer talking therapy in the UK.
People often describe me as a calm, relaxed, and genuine person — and I bring these qualities into therapy sessions. I am also very curious about people, which helps me to understand others.
In addition to private practice, I work in NHS mental health services, offering talking therapy to people from all different kinds of backgrounds, struggling with a wide range of difficulties which are contributing to them feeling low, depressed, and anxious.
I have also volunteered with different voluntary sector services, offering emotional support to adults struggling with suicidal feelings, and to children and teenagers struggling with a range of difficulties.
Professional registration and membership
I am registered to practice psychotherapeutically with two regulatory bodies for therapists in the UK (BACP, UKCP). I am also a member of BAATN (the Black, African, Asian Therapy Network).
- British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) – accredited member
- UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) – full clinical member
- The Black, African, Asian Therapy Network (BAATN) – practitioner member
Qualifications
I am qualified to practice psychotherapeutically, having spent 5-years studying and training in the fields of psychological therapy and psychology.
- Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip.), Person-Centred Experiential Psychotherapeutic Counselling | accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), and by the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
- Practitioner Licence, Person-Centred Experiential Counselling for Depression (PCE-CFD) | qualifying for practice within NHS mental health services
- Masters’ Degree (MSc), Psychology | accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS)
Continuing professional development (CPD)
I continually invest in improving my practice by undertaking ongoing training and study. For example, to help me better understand the experiences and difficulties of particular client groups. Some of the key CPD training I have completed:
- Race, Ethnicity & Culture: Therapeutic Implications for Clinical Practice
- Introduction to Culturally Inclusive and Adaptive Therapy for Black Men
- Working with the LGBTQ+ community
- Understanding ADHD: Current Research and Practice
- Emotion-Focused Therapy: The Transforming Power of Affect