Bek La
Somatic Psychotherapist, Psychotherapist
Therapy with Bek
Elsternwick, Melbourne VIC 3185
In Person + Telehealth
Philosophy & Vision
Perhaps you've done some inner work already. You can name your patterns, the people-pleasing, the boundary struggles, the relationship dynamics that keep repeating...but something still feels a bit stuck.
Maybe you're navigating a breakup, family conflict, or a significant life transition.
I believe moments of crisis and transition can be invitations to meet ourselves more deeply and to live with greater intention and clarity. Together we'll make sense of the patterns that show up in your life, understand how past experiences may be shaping your present, so that you can live with greater authenticity, awareness and freedom.
Many of my clients come having already done talk therapy. They have the insight, they understand their patterns, and yet something still feels stuck. Somatic therapy brings the body and nervous system into the healing process.
Background
Before becoming a therapist, I worked as an oncology nurse, where had the honour of sitting with people in some of life’s most vulnerable moments. Being with grief, loss, and uncertainty allowed me the privilege to hold space for pain, and deepened my belief in the importance of relationships, purpose, and connection in our lives.
I also spent several years in the fitness and wellness industry, where I developed a deep appreciation for the mind–body connection. That experience continues to shape how I practice today: with an understanding of the importance of change not just through insight, but also through integration with the body.
I also worked as an Operations Manager, where I gained insight into business development.
Services
Quality Provision
Certified Practicing Counsellor PACFA Registration No. 33271
Areas of Interest
Accreditations
- Bachelor of Psychotherapy & Counselling - Ikon Institue of Australia
Modalities
Attachment Theory - Emotionally Focused Therapy - Experiential - Focusing - Integrative - Internal Family Systems - Person Centred - Sensorimotor Psychotherapy - Somatic Experiencing® - Somatic Psychotherapy
Therapy Approach
My style is warm, curious, and collaborative.
My practice is integrative, drawing on attachment theory, parts work, somatic therapies, polyvagal theory and emotion-focused therapy.
I offer an integrative blend of:
Talk therapy – to support insight, self-understanding and integration.
Experiential processes – to access deeper, sometimes unconscious content to facilitate self-awareness and healing.
Somatic therapy – to track and release emotions and trauma stored in the body, and regulate the nervous system.
Relational skill-building – to enhance your capacity for conscious communication, boundary setting, and navigating challenging relational dynamics.
Professional Associations
- Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia
Practice Locations
214 Glen Huntly Rd
Elsternwick VIC 3185
Appointments
Tuesday - Fridays 10am-6pm.
Saturday 9am-1pm
Fees & Insurance
Individual sessions are $150 for 60 minutes.
Contact Bek
Please contact me to book a 15 minute free initial consult
A conversation with Bek La
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My own healing journey led me here. I experienced firsthand what it feels like to be truly seen and supported by a therapist, and that experience changed the trajectory of my life. I had always been drawn to caring for others — I worked as a nurse for years, but I found myself increasingly pulled toward the deeper, more relational work of sitting with someone in their emotional world. Counselling felt like the truest expression of me and of the kind of help I wanted to offer.
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Some therapies focus mainly on your thoughts, helping you understand your thinking patterns and make changes from there. That’s important, but it’s only part of the picture.
My approach of psychotherapy also attends to your emotions, patterns, your nervous system, and your relationships. That’s because a lot of what we carry can’t always be understood and processed in words — it’s held in our bodies, how we feel, react, and relate.
At the heart of this process is the therapeutic relationship. When therapy feels grounded and safe, it becomes a space to explore your internal world with curiosity and compassion — to make sense of the patterns that show up in your life, understand how past experiences may be shaping your present, so that you can discover new ways of being with yourself, others, and the world around you. -
Psychotherapy is a deeper, longer-term process — so the experience of “progress” can look a little different to more solution-focused approaches.
In the early stages (often within the first 1–10 sessions), many people begin to notice some shifts in symptom relief — feeling slightly more settled, having language for their experiences, or a greater sense of clarity around what’s been going on.
From there, the work often moves into a deeper phase. This is where we begin exploring underlying patterns — including attachment dynamics, relational experiences, and aspects of developmental trauma. This kind of work takes time, and an important part of progress is the therapeutic relationship itself — building enough safety for more meaningful change to unfold.
Because of this, regularity and rhythm in sessions matter. Weekly or fortnightly sessions tend to support the continuity and depth that psychotherapy invites.
That said, we’ll work collaboratively to find a pace that feels right for you — taking into account your needs, goals, and what life looks like right now. -
The privilege of witnessing someone come home to themselves. There's a sacredness in being allowed into another person's inner world, and I never take that for granted. I love that this work asks me to keep growing alongside my clients. Every person who walks through the door teaches me something new about what it means to be human.
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The Top Five Regrets of the Dying by Bronnie Ware. It's one of those books that stays with you long after you put it down. It reminds me to zoom out, and ask myself whether I'm prioritising what truly matters in this short, precious life