About Laurent
Personal
Having lived in several countries, I enjoy the cultural diversity of my clients. Originally from Mauritius, I grew up in South Africa, where I also trained as a psychologist. With a love for languages, I am fluent in Afrikaans and speak French at a conversational level. I moved to the UK in 2007 and worked in the assistive technology field for four years, before resuming psychology practise in 2011.
I was born blind, which means that I’ve been a life-long problem solver and enjoy creatively bringing personal strengths and resources to bear on overcoming challenges. In my approach to therapy, this can-do attitude goes hand in hand with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), an evidence-based model within CBT in which I will aim to compassionately support you in surmounting obstacles to be fully present in your life to do what matters to you.
Qualifications & Professional Registration
I am a HCPC-registered counselling psychologist and BABCP-accredited CBT therapist. My seven years of training as a psychologist and further training in CBT helped me to develop a deep appreciation and experience of working with working age adults, older adults, students and clients with various disabilities in multicultural settings. I hold a MA in Counselling Psychology from Stellenbosch University in South Africa (2004) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Evidence-based Psychotherapy from the University of Reading (2016), which constituted my specialist CBT training. As part of my Counselling Psychology qualification, I was trained in several therapeutic modalities, including cognitive behavioural therapy, person-centred therapy, psychodynamic therapy and solutions-focussed therapy. I have since specialised in cognitive behavioural therapy and have developed a particular interest in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), in which I have completed advanced training.
Career
I am in private practise, predominantly serving a professional clientele fulfilling demanding roles in pressured environments. Prior to moving to Solihull, I ran a flourishing practise in London’s Canary Wharf district.
With experience of working in a variety of mental health settings in the UK and South Africa. My career started at the University of Stellenbosch’s student counselling services, a multi-cultural setting where many of my clients were from historically disadvantaged backgrounds. I also worked in health settings, with clients with HIV/AIDS, often within the context of significant systemic challenges. I have also worked extensively with students from University College London, providing effective time-limited therapy for a multi-cultural client group in a highly competitive setting.
These varied experiences have taught me to appreciate the amazing resilience of the human spirit amidst difficult circumstances and the value of a nurturing, yet pragmatic approach in fostering it when things become overwhelming.
