Chau-Yee Lo

I am a Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist with eighteen years of experience working in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. My career in this discipline began in the third sector, working with young children in Social Care where I learnt at first hand the profound impact of trauma in early years. Over time, I have developed a specialist interest in my clinical work in exploring life-changing experiences faced by children and young people, and the profound and enduring effect they have on development. I believe in  the potential of the therapeutic process as a valuable resource in supporting children and young people in their developmental journey.

A significant focus of my practice is on adolescents and young adults who are neuro-diverse, and those who may have related complex developmental and learning needs. At the Tavistock and Portman Clinic, where I trained, I co-established a workgroup with allied colleagues dedicated to the task of understanding the impact of digital use on psychological development in adolescence. This has led to an ongoing research focus in understanding the intersection between trauma and autism, and the importance of the environment in supporting recovery following adverse experiences.

My background in music and in law is fundamental to my approach to psychotherapy: attending to the dynamic between the verbal and non-verbal, to tune into the wavelength of each young person requires sensitivity, flexibility and often courage. Whereas some may be more suited to symptom-focused, short-term work, for others ongoing commitment may enable a more holistic approach to development, yielding more substantial benefits beyond the end of our work together.

I have been a Visiting Lecturer at the Tavistock Clinic for many years; I am a recipient of the Melanie Klein Trust scholarship fund, and Reviews Editor of The International Journal of Infant Observation published by Routledge. I am a Member and Clinical Registrant of the International Neuro-psychoanalysis Society, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

I am registered with the British Psychoanalytic Council and Association of Child Psychotherapists.

– Initial consultation and assessment
– Individual psychotherapy
– Parent support work