About me

Laura coogan

I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where I graduated with a Master of Psychology degree at the University of Buenos Aires (1986). Since then, I have completed many additional training and courses for psychotherapists. I have lectured at the University level and have delivered many presentations and workshops in different countries to diverse audiences.

On a personal level, I wish to share with you that I was born into a middle class family. My father was a dentist and my mother was a successful entrepreneur, in spite of the extreme and progressive limitations inflicted upon her by Multiple Sclerosis. My Russian and Polish grandparents immigrated to South America due to the persecution of Jews at the beginning of the XX century and never looked back. They were the first resilient refugees that I deeply admired. When I turned 40 years of age, I immigrated to Canada and shortly thereafter had my first and only child. I continue pursuing personal and professional projects that keep me passionate and lively.

Throughout my career, I have encountered amazing teachers that have given me the opportunity to deepen my experience in the art of listening, feeling, appreciating and comprehending human beings.

In Argentina, Chile and Canada I have been actively involved with my private practice as well as working within different private and government settings.

My online practice has for years been the way in which clients from different countries, whether they be Spanish or English speaking, could continue with their sessions, thereby avoiding any disruptions to their therapeutic processes.

My academic and professional trajectory

Since graduating in 1986 as a Psychologist to the present time, my personal and professional inquiries into the field of human wellbeing have never ceased. This ongoing journey has continued by taking a postgraduate training in Cognitive Psychotherapy at the Cognitive Therapy Centre (CTC, Argentina, 1998).

My passion and curiosity about the human body and body image, sadly inspired by the deterioration of my mother in her struggle with Multiple Sclerosis, has led me to explore pioneers for body therapeutic techniques such as Gerda Alexander, Moshe Feldenkrais. and finally to training in a sophisticated Martial Art such as Tai Chi Chuan. At the Tai Chi Chuan Argentinian Association, I rose to the level of instructor to level I students (1987-1991).

My experience includes teaching a course called Body Therapeutic Techniques (TCT as the Spanish abbreviation, from 1993 to 1996) at the University of El Salvador at Buenos Aires, Argentina in the MusicTherapy Department. This training has subsequently become popular among Psychotherapists and other Health professionals.

Prior to emigrating to Canada at the end of 1998, I had the privilege of working on Chiloe Island, Chile, with the renowned Gestalt Psychotherapist, Dr. Adriana Schnake who I represented in Lisbon, Portugal when I did the introductory speech to her book Dialogues with the Body (1997).

Once in Canada, I had the great opportunity to be hired by the Government of Manitoba as the Cross-Cultural Mental Health Specialist, a position I held from 2000 to 2015). I was in charge of assessments, supervision and treatment, as well as acting as a consultant to other mental health services. Subsequent to this experience, I transferred to another program which also serves families within a multicultural setting, a position I have held from 2017 to the present time.

These experiences have further piqued my curiosity, especially with regard to important topics such as Traumatic Stress and Complex Trauma. The connection between stress-trauma and human physiology has always been the guidepost which has led me to study cutting edge research and therapeutic approaches in this field. Issues such as how does the body react to stress, especially to traumatic stress? As well, where exactly is the traumatic experience located in the body, how does the physiology react to it and how long does this reaction stay in the body? Is it ever discharged?

Coupled with this is the subject of resilience, the capacity to “bounce back to a balanced stage” and how it is affected by traumatic stress. I am also interested in the extent to which the formation of early childhood experiences set the template for resilience and the subset of how secure attachment contributes to form a solid template for resilience. These kinds of questions spur me on to my ongoing quest for greater understanding of this field of interest.

My therapeutic approach

The approaches that have been chosen in my career as a psychotherapist have been many, diverse and yet complementary.

Psychoanalysis was my first training approach and through my University years, it had always been the biggest platform for therapists in Buenos Aires. Psychoanalysis’ lense has allowed me to understand the “symptom” as the key element/experience that hides and unveils at the same time.

Gestalt Therapy has helped me understand the value of Identifying the relationship between apparent opposite desires and the opportunity for integration of the parts in play.

Cognitive Psychotherapy I have always been more inclined to a constructivist line as opposed to a behavioral one. In general, I find that it focuses on the particular perception that we have of our experiences and brings a way to identify patterns of distortion and their emotional impact. In Canada I have taken many training sessions related to this field. Among the most important ones for my practice is Self-Regulation Therapy (2012-2014). This form of therapy has helped me to better understand the language of the body from the standpoint of its physiology and its reactions to traumatic stress.

More recently and likely for many years to come, I have been immersed in Compassionate Inquiry as presented by Dr. Gabor Mate’s team. This field combines very thoughtfully all of the approaches I have taken and offers me answers to many of my questions. In my view, this approach builds upon the most human element, that of compassion which is not represented so clearly in other therapeutic approaches. When the client changes the relationship within, healing is taking place and in my opinion, compassion is the key for this profound change.

Clients often consult due to a sense of being disconnected from within, they appear uncomfortable, out of balance and as a result, there is suffering. The reasons usually are obvious, however not always enough to “make it better”. We work from the sense of out-of-balance to balance, from discomfort to inner-comfort, from dis-connection to connection (within and, as a result, with others).

When I work with families, my main focus is on the parents and their own triggers such as stress and discomfort. The exploration of their own childhood is key to renew and improve the connection with their children of any age. When parents do better in their healing process, the change in the family feels almost magical.

My sessions, I am told, are very dynamic. Together we decide the rhythm and frequency of the sessions.

I strongly suggest to my clients that outside their sessions they should consider engaging in a body practice that will allow the “un-blocking” of the body by utilizing both specific and non-specific movements. I suggest yoga, the Feldenkrais Method, regular walks in nature, dancing, and any other activity that invites a conscious movement.

I invite you to expose yourself in this adventure that can lead to profound and long lasting wellbeing.

With great appreciation,

Laura Coogan