Lourens Human, ACA

Lourens Human is an ACA counsellor with nearly three decades of experience in psychology and counselling. He moved from South Africa to Australia in 2017 and has worked in Australia as a counsellor since 2018. Lourens combines long-term practice with academic experience to help people facing stressful life events and health-related challenges.

He keeps sessions straightforward and practical. Lourens focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety and depression. He supports those coping with trauma, major life changes and career concerns. He also works with people dealing with cancer, ageing issues and feelings of isolation.

Earlier in his career Lourens lectured and supervised postgraduate students at the University of Pretoria. He completed a PhD in Psychology and held roles teaching career, counselling and sport psychology. That academic background informs a careful, methodical approach to counselling.

Since moving to Australia he has provided therapeutic counselling at a retreat for people who experienced severe trauma and has worked with victims of crime, including sexual assault and domestic violence. These roles shaped his focus on trauma, grief and recovery after significant events.

In sessions Lourens aims to be direct and respectful. He helps people talk through difficult events, make sense of feelings, and find practical ways to cope day to day. He draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques and tailors the process to each person’s needs and goals.

How evidence-based methods translate to online care

Many of Lourens' approaches come from evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on practical change and trauma recovery. One common approach he uses helps people process traumatic memories and the feelings that follow, aiming to reduce their daily impact and teach coping tools. Another approach focuses on managing mood and anxiety by identifying unhelpful patterns and building step-by-step routines to improve day-to-day functioning.

Choosing the right method is a collaborative process. Lourens will work with each person to match techniques to their goals, symptoms and personal preferences. He discusses options and adjusts the plan as therapy progresses so the approach stays relevant and useful.

If you are considering online sessions, confirm the current formats before booking because the biography does not list specific options. Online therapy can make it easier to fit counselling into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. It can also let people do work between sessions that supports recovery, such as monitoring mood or practising new routines. Discuss formats and practical arrangements with the therapist when you schedule to find what will work best for your situation.