Will Laird

Will is a psychologist and clinical psychology registrar experienced in the psychological assessment, treatment and management of children, adolescents and families. Will holds a Bachelor of Psychological Science, Graduate Diploma of Psychology, and Master of Psychology (Clinical) and is a member of the Australian Psychological Society.

Will has an interest in neurodevelopmental assessment, such as ADHD, autism, specific learning disorders, FASD, and intellectual disability and the treatment of commonly co-occurring conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive and tic disorders, phobias, and difficulties including family conflict, high-risk behaviours and anxiety. Additionally, Will is interested in working with young people and their families who are queer (LGBTQIA+) or questioning their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Therapeutically, Will typically sees adolescents and adults.

Will uses a trauma-informed, attachment-focused and neuroaffirming framework when working with clients and employs a variety of evidence-based psychological interventions, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), and schema therapy. Will has received training in developmental and relational childhood trauma, attachment and family systems focused recovery. Will is a registered Circle of Security Parent (COSP) facilitator and acknowledges that the caregiver/parent-child relationship is the core of therapeutic work with children and young people.

Will has held various practice-based and leadership positions in Victoria’s State-funded community services sector, including as a senior advisor to Victoria’s largest independent child and family services organisation. Will has led and delivered behavioural intervention services for men who use violence and women who use force in their relationships, perinatal family violence services for young mothers and their infant children, clinical assessment of children and their protective parent in family violence refuges, and intervention with high-risk adolescents with dual involvement in the Child Protection and Youth Justice systems. When not at MCPC, Will consults for a specialist paediatric clinic for children in out-of-home care and continues to provide private consultation to Victoria’s Child Protection and community services sector.