Based on the Upper North Shore
I live locally and work with people across Pymble, Killara, Roseville, St Ives, Lindfield, Turramurra and Lane Cove. Sessions are held online, so there is no commute, no parking and no sitting in a waiting room.
Counselling North Shore
Counselling for individuals and couples on the North Shore.
The North Shore can look settled from the outside. Good suburbs, good schools, busy weeks. But that does not mean everything underneath is going as smoothly as it appears.
I'm Leif Lawson, a psychotherapist and counsellor. I live locally and work online with individuals and couples across Pymble, Killara, Roseville, St Ives, Lindfield, Turramurra and Lane Cove, on anxiety, stress, low mood and relationship difficulties.
You do not need a referral, a diagnosis, or a crisis to start. Just a sense that something could be better than it is.
Ready when you are
Book a session
You might recognise this
What people bring to counselling
Everyone arrives with their own story, but these are the themes that come up most often with the people I work with.
- Anxiety, overthinking and a mind that does not switch off easily
- Low mood, flatness or the feeling of just going through the motions
- Relationship strain, disconnection or the same argument on repeat
- Stress and burnout that have quietly become your normal
- Grief, loss or a life transition that has changed the ground under you
- Wanting to understand your own patterns rather than just cope with them
A large part of my work is relationship counselling with couples: communication difficulties, repeated conflict, rebuilding trust after infidelity, and the slow drift of feeling more like housemates than partners. You can read more about that on the couples counselling page.
What sessions look like
Local, private and built around your week
Sessions that fit real life
Individual sessions run for 50 minutes. Couples sessions are longer so both of you have room. There are limited early and later appointments each week, and availability is shown live when you book.
Private and straightforward
No GP referral, no diagnosis, no mental health care plan needed. You can book directly, and what we talk about stays between us within the usual professional and legal limits.
You can read more about individual counselling, the local pages for North Sydney and Pymble, or how anxiety counselling works if that is the main thing on your mind.
Common questions
Before you get in touch
- Do you see clients in person on the North Shore?
- Sessions are currently held online. Most local clients find this easier than travelling to a room, and it means you can keep your appointment even on a busy or unpredictable week.
- Do you work with couples as well as individuals?
- Yes. A large part of my work is with couples, including communication difficulties, repeated conflict, trust after infidelity, and the slow drift of feeling more like housemates than partners. You can read more on the couples counselling page.
- How much does a session cost?
- Current session lengths, fees and the four session Growth Package are listed on the sessions and fees page, so there are no surprises before you book.
- Are you a psychologist?
- I am a psychotherapist and counsellor, not a registered psychologist. Sessions are private rather than Medicare rebated, and the work focuses on understanding patterns, relationships and meaning over time.
- What happens in a first session?
- We talk about what brought you here, what you have already tried, and what you would like to be different. There is no assessment to pass. By the end you will have a sense of whether we are a good fit.
Session lengths, fees and the four session Growth Package are on the sessions & fees page. When you are ready, you can book a time or send me a message first.
