Lara Cooke


Every professional displayed on Counselling Directory has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.
This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I work with adults, teenagers and children.
I am a fully qualified and experienced Psychotherapist registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT).
Often words can fail us when trying to express our feelings. Art Psychotherapy is a form of Psychotherapy where art-making is used to help communicate and explore our emotions alongside talking. You don't need any artistic skill and there is no pressure to use the art materials in the sessions, you may prefer just talking or to interweave between the two. The art that is made is not used as a diagnostic tool, but as a way to explore emotional issues. Central to my practice is the therapeutic relationship, creating a trusting and a non judgemental environment where you feel able to open up about the difficulties that you may be experiencing.
My practice:
I have many years experience in a broad range of settings including working in palliative and bereavement care, working with adults, children, couples and families, based in hospices in London and Rishikesh, India. I also work in community mental health, my background includes working with anxiety, panic attacks, depression, addiction, eating disorders, sexual abuse, cancer care, end of life, postnatal issues, pregnancy loss, hyperemesis and trauma (including PTSD). I also have years of experience working in primary and secondary schools with children and adolescents.
I co-facilitate perinatal Art Psychotherapy groups. This includes a Postnatal Mental Health Group. We are also currently running a Pregnancy Loss Group.
I am an associate lecturer at Goldsmiths university of London on the MA Art Psychotherapy course.
My private practice takes place in both London and East Sussex (Crystal Palace, Lewes, Uckfield and Brighton). The studio settings are quiet, in nature and peaceful.
I also offer online therapy and supervision via zoom.
I work with a psychodynamic approach to therapy and my practice is also informed by existential theory and thinking. I understand what a huge step starting therapy can be, it can feel scary entering the unknown and I will support you to navigate through this process. I believe therapy can open channels of blocked communication and self-expression, to bring about a sense of inner peace, harmony and healing. I have in-depth experience of working with people from all walks of life, cross-culturally and from a diversity backgrounds.
I offer an initial telephone consultation free of charge.
Training, qualifications & experience
BA Hons, PGCE, MA
Supervision Training (BAAT)
Experience:
- The Cassel Centre - community mental health.
- St Christophers Hospice, offering family, individual, couple therapy and working with both adults and children. This includes psycho-education/running conferences (Facing Death Creatively).
- Setting up a partnership with Ganga Prem Hospice in Rishikesh, providing therapy to patients, carers and hospice staff.
- Ten years experience working in inner London Primary and Secondary Schools- PGCE
- Working alongside perinatal mental health charity, providing Art Psychotherapy groups to women.
- Diversity and Ability, specialist mental health social enterprise.
Publications:
(2019) ‘Narratives East West – Art Therapy in a Hospice in Northern India, A Patchwork of Cross-Cultural Encounters’, in The International Handbook of Art Therapy in Palliative and Bereavement Care. New York: Routledge, Chapter 35.
Training:
- Ancestral Healing September 2023, Environmental Art Therapy Oct 2022, White: an art therapists perspective Jan 2016, Supervision Training Course for Art Therapies 2016, Working with Loss, Grief and Attachment Nov 2015
Conferences:
Co-facilitating the Facing Death Creatively: October 2015, October 2016, October 2017, Oct 2018, Oct 2019, Oct 2021
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.

The HCPC are an independent, UK-wide health regulator. They set standards of professional training, performance and conduct for 16 professions.
They keep a register of health professionals who meet their standards, and they take action if registered health professionals fall below those standards. They were created by a piece of legislation called the Health Professions Order 2001.
Registration means that a health professional meets national standards for their professional training, performance and conduct.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
£65.00 - £85.00
Free initial telephone session
Concessions offered for
When I work
Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Morning | |||||||
Afternoon | |||||||
Evening | |||||||
Night |
Further information
I offer an initial consultation free of charge and I am available for therapy in person and via Zoom.