“It’s been wonderful to have a more flexible, homely environment to support therapeutic work”
Laura Docherty – Aldergrove Cottage
A Co Antrim mum of three has drawn on her experience as both a parent and an Occupational Therapist to develop a safe space for people of all ages to access mental health support.
Laura Docherty founded Aldergrove Cottage in Crumlin, a trauma-informed mental health and wellbeing service, after almost a decade working in mental health provision.
Aldergrove Cottage provides targeted support for families, carers, young people, and adults to better understand what impacts their mental health and how this relates to their day-to-day functioning.
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After qualifying from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh in 2010, Laura began her career in paediatric Occupational Therapy as a technical instructor.
Laura said: “My first rotation into mental health was in 2015 Initially, I thought I was just gaining experience, but I quickly realised that mental health was the missing piece for me as an OT.
“Since then, I’ve been privileged to work with amazing people of all ages and stages in their recovery journeys, both adults and adolescents, across acute inpatient settings and older adult wards.”
Laura eventually became the team lead OT in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service in the Northern Trust.
She continued: “These experiences taught me so much about the resilience of people and about myself, and confirmed that mental health OT really was the area I wanted to further expand.”
Earlier this year, Laura decided to take the plunge and create a new role for herself. She wanted to set up a “trauma-informed environment” while also creating a service that complemented her home life.
“As a mum of three children, I needed something that would support and celebrate the unique ways my own family experience the world,” she explained.
“We want everyone to feel comfortable connecting with the environment – both inside and out,
“The house itself is first and foremost a home, with a warm, welcoming atmosphere that helps people feel grounded and at ease.
“Our services are inclusive and designed for people of all abilities, whether they are looking to learn more about their mental health, build resilience, or better understand how to meet their own needs on a daily basis.”
Laura explained that users don’t need a formal diagnosis to take part in Aldergrove Cottage group work abd that anyone interested in developing coping strategies, self-awareness, or emotional wellbeing is welcome.
“We use a range of approaches, including sensory attachment intervention, to help people connect with themselves and others in meaningful ways.
Space in Aldergtove Cottage
“The best thing has been creating an environment that truly supports connection and engagement. With such a versatile space, we can adapt sessions to suit individual needs, whether that’s adjustments based on arousal levels, energy, or presentation,”
“Having previously worked in very clinical settings, it’s been wonderful to have a more flexible, homely environment to support therapeutic work.
“While we are still in the early stages, we are optimistic about the future and have exciting plans to expand Aldergrove Cottage and our clinical spaces over the next few years.”
Find out more about Laura and her work here
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