About Laura Ruusalu

Tere! I'm Laura
Clinical Practise Intern
Pronouns: She/her
Languages: English, Estonian
Affiliation: Leiden University

Education
R.M.Sc. in Clinical Psychology from Leiden University, Research Master’s thesis – Exploring the Relationships Between Self-Esteem, Loneliness, Social Connectedness, and Need to Belong in Young Females with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
B.Sc. in International Psychology from Leiden University, Bachelor’s thesis – Interpersonal Factors as Correlates of Suicidal Ideation
International Baccalaureate (IB) from Oslo International School
Specialities
Areas of Interest
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Self-esteem
- Sexuality
- Self-identity
- Relationships
- Addiction
- Eating disorders
- Body image & beauty standards
Psychological Approaches
- Schema Therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Humanist Approach
- Holistic Therapy
- Culturally-sensitive therapy

About Me
As a queer person who often identified as the “weird kid” growing up (and to be honest, still do), I deeply understand the challenges of feeling out of place and the transformative power of finding your people. Embracing yourself fully and creating a sense of connection is what I hope to help you achieve through our work together.
In therapy, I create a safe, judgment-free space where you can feel truly seen and accepted. My approach is integrative, collaborative, and tailored to your unique needs, blending evidence-based techniques with an understanding of your individual beliefs and experiences. Having been through my own therapeutic journey, I know how powerful it is to rewrite negative beliefs and build lasting psychological tools. It’s an honor to guide others through this deeply transformative process.

Q & A
What do I offer?
- Individual Therapy (read more about it)
- Workshops (read more)
How long?
Up to 5 months (possibly more)
Where?
In-person therapy in Leiden, or online
Is therapy supervised?
Yes, by licensed psychologist Ishana Durante – Bose
How is this priced?
The sliding scale fee for therapy is ⅓ of Ishana’s typical fee range. For more info:
Individual Therapy (Clinical Internship Scale)
Interns completing their Clinical Psychology MSc offer therapy sessions at ⅔ of the standard rate. Individual sessions typically are an hour (60 minutes) long. Individual sessions over an hour (1.5) can be arranged for an additional proportionate fee.
Monthly Income (Gross, Bruto) / € | Individual Therapy Fee (per 1 hr Session) / € |
< 1,500 | 43 |
1,500 – 2,500 | 50 |
2,500 – 4,000 | 60 |
4,000 – 5,500 | 70 |
> 5,500 | 80 |
If your company pays | 87 |
If a guardian/parent pays | Their income on this scale |
How does this work?
- Reach out
- We then organise a consultation meeting to see if I can support you and if there’s a match
- From there we start therapy; working on moving towards your therapy goals