So-An Lao Clinical Psychologist

I am a clinical psychologist and a board-approved supervisor with extensive experience working in public mental health. I have been a resident of the Dandenong Ranges in the past few years and have come to appreciate how a natural environment can calm our nervous system and connect us back to rhythms that support life. The beauty of the hills grounds me when I lend myself to supporting others during stressful times when they are overwhelmed and cannot see a way forward. I understand that people's experiences are complex, and sometimes standard treatment may not work. Sometimes people heal through talking, while others need to experience something different for change to seem possible. I specialise in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, which offers an experiential approach to healing the mind through the body. However, traditional cognitive behavioural treatments are also available. We will work together utilising evidence-based and emerging therapies to help you achieve your mental health goals. Just like a fern frond knows when it is time to unfurl into a lush leaf, you hold within yourself an innate ability to heal and grow into who you were always meant to be.

Fern & Mind

Fern and Mind is a psychology clinic located in Emerald in the Dandenong Ranges. It was started by clinical psychologist, So-An Lao, who moved to the hills during Covid and fell in love with life in the hills. Her desire to never leave the hills motivated her to start her own practice closer to home to provide a much-needed service to the local community. Her vision for the clinic was that it would grow organically in its reputation as a cutting-edge therapeutic hub grounded in nature, attracting both locals and off-hill visitors seeking effective treatment for their psychological struggles. Our current interest is in the area of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies in potentially treating treatment-resistant depression as well as fast-tracking the treatment of PTSD. Whilst our clinical psychologist is trained to deliver MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for treatment of PTSD through the American organisation, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), our regulations currently require a multi-disciplinary team to prescribe and oversee this treatment. We currently cannot offer dosage, but can help with integration and processing. As research and regulation progress in this area, what we can offer may change. Watch this space as we update you on the latest in Psychedelic Assisted Treatments (PAT).

Our Staff