About Larissa
Larissa Lau is an AASW social worker who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and low self-esteem. She uses straightforward conversation and practical strategies to support people through life changes. Lara aims to make the first step feel manageable and clear.
Lara draws on ten years' experience to tailor work to each person's needs. She offers a mix of talking, skill-building and body-based techniques to help people cope day to day.
How Larissa works
Sessions focus on short-term tools and longer-term goals so progress can be noticed between meetings. Her background is in social work, with a Master of Social Work and accreditation with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). That training informs a strengths-based approach that looks at what is working as well as what is hard.
Common concerns she supports include panic, phobias, grief, attachment and family of origin issues, and multicultural stress. Lara also helps people dealing with abandonment, guilt and shame, infidelity, isolation and finding purpose. In sessions she works collaboratively, listening first and then co-creating a simple plan.
Practical exercises, mindfulness and acceptance strategies are offered alongside exploration of feelings. The aim is clearer coping, reduced overwhelm and a steadier sense of direction.
What Larissa works with
The areas below are the ones Larissa selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
Also listed
- Abandonment
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Multicultural concerns
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Somatization
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Training and background
| Register | AASW |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 10 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | Australia |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
How evidence-based approaches work online
Larisa uses a few evidence-based techniques adapted for online work. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and practising different ways of thinking and behaving; it helps with anxiety, panic and depression by teaching clear tools to use day to day. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) helps people notice what matters to them, accept difficult feelings and take values-based action; this approach supports coping with life changes and building a meaningful routine. Somatic experiencing emphasises bodily awareness and gentle regulation exercises to reduce tension after trauma; it can be useful for people who feel stuck in physical reactions to stress.Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will listen to your goals and try different methods to see what fits. Together you will shape a plan that matches needs, preferences and practical constraints rather than following a single technique.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging, so work can fit around busy days. Video lets you use visual cues and longer conversation, phone can be easier when bandwidth is limited, and chat or messaging suits quick check-ins or shorter therapeutic tasks. These options make it simpler to keep momentum, attend regular sessions and use therapy tools between meetings.
Start online instead of waiting
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Common questions
What concerns does Lara commonly help with?
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
How much experience does she have?
What credentials and location are listed?
Which languages are offered and can international clients connect?
What session formats are available online?
How are costs and billing handled?
How do I begin the process?
A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
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