Laura Coat

Senior Clinical Psychologist

About

Laura is a registered Senior Clinical Psychologist and is currently undertaking further postgraduate study in forensic psychology. Laura is a Member of the Australian Psychological Society (MAPS) and a student member of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychiatry and Law (ANZAPPL) and International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services (IAFMHS). She completed her training in clinical psychology at The University of Tasmania and has since worked in a variety of public, private and correctional mental health settings in Tasmania, South Australia, and Victoria. 

Laura is a Board-Approved Clinical Supervisor and available to provide supervision to provisional psychologists, generally and clinically registered psychologists, and psychologists undertaking the clinical registrar pathway.

Laura has experience working with adolescents and adults with a variety of mental health difficulties including anxiety, depression, stress, emotional dysregulation, self-injury/harm, anger, trauma, personality disorder. She also has experience working with clients in crisis, experiencing domestic violence, and those with forensic and offending backgrounds.

Laura is particularly interested in working with people who are experiencing sexual health-related concerns, including Vulvodynia, Vaginismus, Dyspareunia, Genito Pelvic Pain and Penetration Disorder (GPPPD), Prostatitis, Erectile Dysfunction. Her practice is LGBTQIA+, non-monogamy, sex work, and kink-inclusive, and she utilises a gender affirming approach. Laura is also trained in non-directive pregnancy counselling and can provide support to pregnant people and their partners under the Medicare partially-funded scheme.

Laura has an open and understanding therapeutic style, informed by her values of acceptance and honesty. She strives to create non-judgemental therapeutic space to help the people she works with discuss and explore their experiences with a sense of safety and trust. Laura works collaboratively with her clients and is guided by their strengths, goals, and feedback.

Therapeutic Approaches

Laura aims to provide a balance between evidence-based therapeutic content and listening to the individual needs of her clients.

She draws upon evidence-based frameworks to inform her therapeutic approach, including:

• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

• Schema Therapy

• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

• Gottman Method of Relationship Therapy

• Trauma-informed therapies

• Gender affirming care

Qualifications

• Doctor of Psychology (Clinical and Forensic), current.

• Master of Psychology (Clinical), The University of Tasmania

• Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours), Flinders University

• Bachelor of Health Science (Honours), Flinders University

• Bachelor of Science, The University of Adelaide