Finder

Specialises in

• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

• Psychotherapy

• Solution Focused Brief Therapy

Offers

• Face-to-face consultations
• Video and telephone consultations

About me

-About Me-
I am a Clinical Psychologist and Psychotherapist with over 15 years of experience, specialising in Brief Strategic Therapy (BST). I trained at the renowned Centro di Terapia Strategica in Arezzo under Professor Giorgio Nardone and am an official psychotherapist of the Centre, and the only one in the UK.

I completed my Psychology degree at the Autonomous University of Barcelona in 2002, followed by a Master's in Behavioural Medicine and Clinical Psychology. Early in my career, I worked at the Sleep Disorders Unit of Vall d'Hebron Hospital in Barcelona.

In 2007, I completed a Master's in Brief Strategic Therapy and later undertook intensive training in Arezzo, further specialising in this brief and structured therapeutic model.

Since 2014, I have been practising in the UK as a Clinical Psychologist, registered with both the HCPC and the British Psychological Society, working across public and private mental health services.

-How I work-
My primary approach is Brief Strategic Therapy (BST), a focused, time-sensitive model that works by identifying how psychological difficulties are maintained in the present and using practical strategies to interrupt unhelpful patterns, supporting lasting change over time.

I offer online therapy in English, Spanish, and Catalan.

I specialise in working with people who feel stuck in recurring emotional or behavioural patterns�often after trying to understand their difficulties or having therapy before, yet still feeling that nothing really changes.

These difficulties can take many forms, including the lasting impact of trauma or grief, persistent fears and phobias, panic attacks, intrusive thoughts, constant worry about illness, catastrophic thinking, compulsive or ritualistic behaviours, tics, binge eating patterns, or repeated relational difficulties. While the presentation may vary, the common experience is of being caught in cycles that feel automatic, overwhelming, and difficult to shift.

To learn more about BST model and how it differs from CBT, please visit the -My Approach- section of my website: www.strategic-minds.co.uk

Professional Experience
In Spain, I worked in neuropsychology and cognitive rehabilitation within multidisciplinary teams and maintained a long-standing private practice.

In the UK, I worked for over two years in a high-dependency psychiatric rehabilitation unit in London, supporting individuals with complex presentations including psychosis, personality-related difficulties, addiction, autism spectrum conditions, and severe trauma.

Since 2021, I have been working online through Strategic Minds, offering brief, structured and change-focused therapy to clients from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Recognitions and Contributions
I have contributed to neuroscience literature and co-authored a double-award-winning poster at the 2018 Division of Clinical Psychology conference: �Chat Caf�: a psychology group � a solution to improve patient engagement.�

How I Can Help
I work with a range of emotional and behavioural difficulties including:

Anxiety presentations (panic, generalised anxiety, social anxiety, agoraphobia, phobias, health anxiety, OCD patterns)
Trauma and post-traumatic responses, including complex trauma and grief
Mood-related difficulties, including depression and emotional dysregulation
Intrusive thoughts, catastrophic thinking, compulsions, tics
Eating-related patterns such as binge eating
Relational difficulties and repeated interpersonal patterns

Clients Feedback
�I had tried a number of therapists for my anxiety and agoraphobia. Susana gave me tools through Brief Strategic Therapy that helped me beyond measure��

�I was sceptical at first, but I saw results within weeks��

More testimonials: www.strategic-minds.co.uk

Areas of interest

Anxiety: panic attacks; generalised anxiety; disorder; OCD; health anxiety; agoraphobia; specific phobias; social anxiety

Mood disorders: depression; mood fluctuations; bipolar disorder; emotional dysregulation

Trauma: PTSD; complex trauma; grief

Relationships

Eating disorders: binge eating; vomiting syndrome

Specialist interests and expertise in the following physical conditions

• Neurological disorders

Medical secretaries

• Susana Lara
• 07729 897073
• susana@strategic-minds.co.uk