Dr Lauren Sayers

Hello, I’m Dr Lauren Sayers. I’m a clinical psychologist and accredited counsellor and psychotherapist. I’m also Director of Serendipity Psychology. I’ve been working within mental health services for over 15 years in different capacities and have experience in a variety of mental health settings working with complex mental health difficulties and trauma. 

I work across the lifespan with individuals, couples and families. My professional experiences within complex mental health environments, such as with the Priory Group and St Andrew’s Healthcare, and through setting up a local trauma-informed children’s home, have helped me develop confidence in working with complex and diverse issues, as well as with those who have shorter-term therapeutic needs. 

My experiences have led to my additional training in several therapeutic models which are detailed below. This means I can draw from many ideas and practices to be versatile and effective in the way I work. I’ve found throughout my career that every person I’ve worked with has benefitted from a different combination of ingredients to reach their goals, so I am passionate about working in a bespoke and integrative way to get the recipe just right!

One of my areas of particular interest is in working with those who have encountered trauma in their life. Trauma can be felt and experienced in lots of different ways. You may have been a victim of familial trauma through current or early family dynamics or have been affected by experiences encountered by generations that came before you (trans-generational trauma), you could have experienced disrupted attachments during your childhood (developmental trauma), or from one very frightening event such as the birth of a child or road traffic accident. You may have experienced trauma as a more accumulative response to chronic ongoing circumstances throughout periods of your life (complex trauma), or maybe meeting your own self-care needs has been difficult for various reasons over time (burnout) which is also a form of trauma. 

I also have a particular interest in working with high-achieving professional women and working mothers. I’ve found that my own experiences of being a working mother of two small children, business owner and psychologist has meant I have a wealth of my own experiences that have helped inform my professional practice. It has also meant I have spent a great deal of time reflecting on my own encounters, those of my friends and colleagues, and learning different approaches to help break down the barriers faced by professional women. 

I am an enthusiastic member of Serendipity’s Neurodivergence Pathway which means I take part in the assessment and ongoing support of those who may be diagnosed with, or seeking diagnosis for ADHD, or an autistic spectrum condition (ASC). My neurodivergence experience, combined with my work with trauma, enables me to hold in mind a range of difficulties that may be impacting the people I work with. 

I am an expert witness trained by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and appear on their Register of Expert Witnesses. I have trained with Oxford University as a clinical supervisor and appear on the BPS Register of Supervisors. I also facilitate training on the doctoral programme for clinical psychologists at the University of Leicester. 

Perhaps most importantly, I love making music, particularly singing in the car, or the kitchen while I’m decorating buttercream cakes. I enjoy spending time with my two small children in the great outdoors, having adventures together and being close to them. These passions keep me inspired for the work I do with my clients.