Desert Flame Psychology was created for three key reasons:
1) Everyone can benefit from a ‘psychological booster’
Not everyone needs or is able to access long-term support. Mental health, like your physical health, sits on a continuum and naturally changes over time in response to life’s inevitable stressors and factors, be they internal or external. Many of us simply feel stuck and need what Desert Flame refers to as a psychological booster. Our boosters are flexible - we are here for you regardless of whether you need a couple of sessions or more long-term support to feel seen, heard and supported.
2) Old habits die hard… that is why we often need help to form new ones
For many people there is a significant difference between what we want to do and what we actually do. This is in part because we spend a large portion of the day on auto-pilot, not aware of the choices we are making. Drifting through life in this way limits our ability to positively modify our behaviour and turn knowledge into tangible action. Desert Flame Psychology will help you become aware of and break unhelpful habits to form new habits that support your long-term health & wellbeing goals.
3) Your mindset is the greatest and most undervalued force in your quest towards sustainable health & wellbeing
We have all been blessed with a complex problem-solving machine (our brain) whose evolutionary purpose is to keep us safe. Through no fault of its own however, our mind can think it’s helping to protect us when in fact it’s not, it’s just keeping us stuck in self-defeating ways. Desert Flame Psychology aims to help you better understand your mind so you can connect with what is important and take mindful, bite-size action to live a rich and meaningful life.
“I found Lauren extremely helpful in communicating key messages and suggesting practical tactics.”
In Loving Memory of Little Lord
(2013 - 2024)
Little Lord was more than a therapy assistant at Desert Flame Psychology; he was a vibrant force of nature - unapologetically himself, confident, funny, and overflowing with love. His unique personality brought laughter, warmth, and encouragement to every woman he worked with, reminding us all to embrace life fully and authentically.
Though he is no longer with us, his legacy lives on in the lives he touched and the lessons he taught us about resilience, kindness, and the power of connection. We continue to be inspired by his devotion to enriching lives, and his memory remains at the heart of everything we do.
Little Lord would have wanted clients to bring their own dog to sessions, so you're most welcome to do so if it makes you feel more comfortable.
A welcome note from Founding Psychologist, Lauren:
Thank you so much for visiting!
The sheer fact you are here shows that you value your health & wellbeing. We are here to help you unlock your unique potential to become the best version of yourself.
It was always my dream to run a unique, modern and progressive psychology practice to inspire and empower women of all ages.
I have always believed in the healing power of human connection - nobody should have to suffer in silence. Having a psychologist who ‘gets it’ and ‘gets you’ is crucially important for you to feel comfortable enough to share your story.
My style is warm, insightful, authentic, respectful, compassionate and non-judgmental. I have extensive experience in the application of a range of evidence-based therapies including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy.
I, like many women, have lived experience of struggling to juggle the competing demands of life which can compromise health & wellbeing. Desert Flame was born to help everyday women find a sustainable way to set and achieve their health & wellbeing goals.
Experience
Besides lifelong support of women, I have a decade of experience working in metropolitan, regional and remote rural communities as a dual-qualified psychologist and teacher.
Participated in a pioneering joint initiative by the NSW Departments of Education and Health to deliver trauma-informed and multi-disciplinary care to young people, Indigenous communities and families with complex mental health needs.
Animal Assisted Psychological Intervention for people from diverse linguistic, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.
Supporting an impact-tech venture called EarthTech whose mission and values are aligned with those of Desert Flame Psychology – helping people burn bright and have a positive impact on the world around them. EarthTech is on a mission to help mobilise the global resources needed to positively impact one billion lives and achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Psychological Science (University of Queensland)
Bachelor of Education (Queensland University of Technology)
Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology (University of Wollongong)
Certificate of School Counselling (NSW Department of Education)
High Distinction & Dean’s Commendation for Honours thesis on Death anxiety and correlations with age, gender and spirituality
Ongoing training and supervision to qualify and maintain registration as a psychologist including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Thearpy and health & wellbeing speciality focus areas.
Received comprehensive training in the Neurosequential Model of Therapy from world-renowned psychiatrist Dr. Bruce Perry.
