At Kensington International Clinic, mental health holds a central place in our comprehensive approach to care. Located in the heart of London, our private clinic brings together practitioners trained in France, the United Kingdom and internationally, with the ambition of offering rigorous, caring psychological support suited to everyone.
Our psychology consultations are conducted in French and English, by practitioners who understand the codes, cultural references and specific realities of expatriate life.
Our team of psychologists at Kensington International Clinic
Three practitioners make up our team dedicated to mental health and psychological assessments, with complementary areas of expertise designed to meet the needs of adults and children alike.
Laurène Lahierre
Laurène Lahierre is a psychologist who trained in clinical psychology in France, with 8 years of clinical experience in Singapore working with an expatriate patient community and educational institutions.
She arrived in London in January 2024 and offers consultations for adults, adolescents and children at our private clinic.
Her approach is integrative: she combines insights from psychoanalysis, transactional analysis and cognitive behavioural therapies.
She is also trained in acceptance and commitment therapy and EMDR, two approaches particularly indicated for the treatment of trauma, anxiety and mood disorders.
She consults in both French and English!
Dr Joe Datt
Dr Joe Datt is a consultant paediatrician and neonatologist, holding an MBBS from the University of East Anglia, with over 20 years of international experience in medical research and clinical care, including 17 years within the British NHS.
He is a Fellow of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians (FFPM, 2024).
Within our mental health pole, he specifically conducts neurodevelopmental assessments for children and adolescents, notably ADHD and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
His approach is holistic and preventive; he considers the child within the full context of their family, school and medical environment, and involves parents at every step of the journey.
His complementary expertise (rare paediatric diseases, infant nutrition, neurological development) makes him a particularly well-suited practitioner for families seeking a specialised paediatric opinion before, during or after a child’s psychological assessment!
What are the common reasons for consultation?
The most common reasons for consultation at Kensington International Clinic are:
- Anxiety and anxiety disorders: generalised anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, social anxiety, performance anxiety
- Depressive states and mood disorders: lasting drop in energy, loss of pleasure, sleep disturbances, dark thoughts, burnout
- Trauma and difficult life events: accidents, assault, bereavement, separation, miscarriage, serious medical diagnosis
- Relational and family difficulties: couples, parenting, family conflicts, isolation linked to expatriation
- Eating disorders: anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, conflicted relationship with body and food
- Psychological assessments and evaluations: ADHD, giftedness, neurodevelopmental disorders in children, educational guidance
- Support for children and adolescents: academic difficulties, separation anxiety, bullying, identity, bilingualism
- Life transitions and existential questions: career change, return from expatriation, retirement, search for meaning
An initial consultation always allows us to assess together the relevance of ongoing support, its frequency and the most appropriate approaches for your situation.
Therapeutic approaches offered at our private clinic
Our psychologists practise an integrative approach; they adapt their tools to your situation, your way of functioning and the nature of your difficulty. The main approaches used at Kensington International Clinic include:
Cognitive behavioural therapies (CBT)
A structured, evidence-based approach particularly indicated for anxiety, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorders and depressive states
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
A method recognised by the WHO for the treatment of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder
ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
A third-wave CBT approach focused on psychological flexibility and alignment with personal values
Psychoanalysis and psychoanalytically-oriented approaches
In-depth exploration of unconscious dynamics, personal history and relational patterns
Transactional analysis
Understanding the relational schemas and "psychological games" at play in daily life
Islamic psychology
Integration of the spiritual framework into therapeutic support, offered by Aboubakar Wane to patients who express this wish
The choice of approach is discussed from the first sessions and may evolve throughout the support, depending on your needs and the results obtained.
Our psychologists see patients from Greater London as well as international patients. To book a consultation, contact us:
- By phone on: 020 7589 9321;
- By email at: contact@lamaisonmedicale.co.uk;
- Online: via our booking form.
FAQ
Who can consult a French speaking psychologist in London?
Expatriates, binational families and members of the French speaking community.
Consulting a psychologist trained in France, in London, means rediscovering a familiar framework of thought: that of French clinical traditions, enriched by Anglo-Saxon contributions validated by research. It is also an opportunity to benefit from an implicit understanding of the challenges of expatriation, whether it is loneliness, uprooting, the academic difficulties of bilingual children or the marital tensions that emerge far from original reference points.
At Kensington International Clinic, this dual culture is embraced. Our psychologists consult interchangeably in French or English, according to the patient’s preference, and adapt their therapeutic references to the context of each person.
What is the difference between a psychologist, psychotherapist and psychiatrist?
Profession | Training | Main scope | Prescribes medication? |
Psychologist | Master’s or doctorate in psychology (minimum 5 years) | Psychological assessments, psychotherapy, support | No |
Psychotherapist | Regulated title, specific training in psychotherapy | Psychotherapies of various orientations | No |
Psychiatrist | Medical doctor specialised in psychiatry (10 to 12 years of medical studies) | Medical diagnosis, prescription, sometimes psychotherapy | Yes |
Are there psychological emergencies?
Yes.
Some situations warrant a rapid psychological consultation. This is notably the case following a traumatic event (accident, assault, sudden bereavement, serious medical news), an acute anxiety crisis, a depressive state that is settling in, or a rapid deterioration of daily functioning. Acting quickly can significantly change the evolution of the condition and limit the risk of it becoming chronic! At our private clinic, our French speaking psychologists strive to offer varied and closely scheduled appointments to respond to these situations, in person or via teleconsultation.
It is essential to distinguish psychological urgency, which calls for a rapid consultation, from vital psychiatric emergency: active suicidal thoughts, acute psychotic episode, immediate danger to oneself or others. In these situations, the right course of action is not a private consultation but immediate recourse to emergency services:
- 999: in case of immediate life-threatening danger
- NHS 111: mental health crisis line, available 24/7
- Samaritans: 116 123: free and confidential listening, 24/7
- Shout: text SHOUT to 85258, text support 24/7
- A&E: emergency department at your nearest hospital
Important : Kensington International Clinic is not a psychiatric emergency service and does not replace these services in the event of immediate danger.
