Lourens Human, ACA

Lourens Human is an experienced counsellor who moved to Australia in 2017 after a long career in South Africa. He has practised as a counsellor in Australia since 2018 and holds ACA as a credential. Lourens is calm and direct in sessions and focuses on practical steps people can use to manage stress and difficult life moments.

He began his career in South Africa, completing a BA (Hons) in Psychology, an MA in Counselling Psychology, an MA in Industrial Psychology and a PhD in Psychology. From 1996 to 2017 he worked at the University of Pretoria teaching undergraduate psychology and coordinating postgraduate counselling training. He also supervised clinical work and ran a part-time practice focused on career and counselling matters.

After relocating, Lourens registered with the Australian Counselling Association as a Counsellor (Level 4) and worked at a therapeutic retreat in Victoria supporting people who had experienced severe trauma. Since 2020 he has provided counselling in South Australia for people affected by crime-related trauma including homicide, sexual assault and domestic violence.

In sessions he talks through immediate concerns and helps clients map small, practical steps forward. He works with stress, anxiety, depression, career questions and coping with life changes, including midlife crisis and issues around life purpose and fatherhood.

People meet him for help with grief, isolation, relationship communication problems and substance concerns. He draws on decades of clinical and teaching experience to offer straightforward guidance and calm support during difficult transitions.

Therapeutic approaches and how they work online

Two evidence-based techniques Lourens commonly uses are trauma-informed counselling and career-focused counselling. Trauma-informed counselling helps people process distressing events at a pace they can manage, and supports recovery from experiences such as assault or violent loss. Career-focused counselling helps clarify values, identify skills and plan realistic next steps for work-related change or transitions.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Lourens collaborates with each person to choose methods that match their goals and preferences. He adjusts the focus over time, checking in regularly to make sure the approach stays helpful and relevant.

Practical benefits of online therapy should be confirmed before booking because session formats are not specified in the biography. Ask which formats are offered when you arrange a first appointment. Many people find remote sessions easier to fit into work or family schedules, allow for shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time so more consistent care is possible. Appropriately qualified therapists can use online work to support progress on stress, mood, career decisions and recovery after trauma.