Laura Hall
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Looking for a therapist can be a daunting experience, especially if things are tough for you right now, but you have taken the first step!
In therapy, sometimes things can feel worse before it feels more manageable. I have experienced many times, both as a counsellor and personally in therapy, how people begin to feel less burdened and overwhelmed in their life when they feel really heard and accepted without judgement or criticism. I believe that the counselling relationship is a collaborative and dynamic process, and I am always receptive to feedback, as it can shape the dynamic between us.
I feel that therapy can be proactive, and not just reactive. Counselling is about bringing everything about you to sessions - whether that is needing to sit and cry, needing to let your anger out within a safe space, or celebrating achievements in your life. I want you to show up as you are and at the pace you feel comfortable – sharing your interests and passions, as well as the more difficult aspects. I offer a space for curiosity on why and how you do things, and a confidential relationship to talk and make sense of any aspect of your life including current, and/or past experiences. I have no expectations on what we speak about; with some clients we have worked towards specific goals, and with others we have just gone with the flow.
I am passionate about my practice and I want you to experience that authenticity and genuine want to follow my curiosity to help you understand yourself better. Understanding reduces the likelihood of repeating unhealthy patterns and develops compassion to value yourself enough to change.
Through working in a charity counselling agency, I have worked with a diverse group of clients. I’m gender, sexuality and relationship diversity affirmative. This means that I don’t make assumptions, mindful of language, and don’t pathologise any aspect of you as a person. I regard all identities and consensual lifestyles as a natural part of human life. I have a broad understanding of the impact culture and society have on all of us, but in particular on those from marginalised communities. I welcome clients that are neurodivergent. I am committed to my own professional development to give my clients the best service possible, and actively seek out any training to ensure I am competent to work with what my clients bring.
Areas that I have experience of working with clients identifying with:
- anxiety
- depression
- trauma and abuse
- ADHD / Autism
- relationship issues
- gender identity and sexuality / LGBTQ+
- Borderline Personality Disorder / BPD / EUPD
- Bipolar
- stress/burnout
- self esteem
- self-harming
- suicidal thoughts
- self development
- exam/school stress
- bullying
- life transitions
Training, qualifications & experience
- PG Dip in Person-Centred Counselling (with distinction) from the University of Aberdeen
- PG Cert in Counselling Children and Young People from the University of Strathclyde
- PG Cert in Adoption Support counselling from the Albany Centre
- MSc Applied Psychology (ongoing)
- ASIST Trained for working with people experiencing suicidal thoughts.
Member organisations
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society
This Not For Profit association of counsellors and psychotherapists aim to support the counselling profession, members and training organisations.
In 2013 the NCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the Accredited Voluntary Register Scheme. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred).
Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision.
Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training.
All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
£60.00 per session
Free initial telephone or online session
Additional information
I am available for a free 30 minute online or phone consultation, for a chat about what you feel you need from therapy, what I offer as a therapist and also to see if we can both work well together. If we decide to work together, then we can discuss mutually convenient times for our session.
I work in a flexible manner and will always look to arrange sessions at a time that is suitable for both of us. I recommend counselling sessions are held weekly, but can offer flexibility around working schedules (such as shift work or offshore trips). This can be reduced to fortnightly, as I am aware that therapy can be expensive and support every 2 weeks is better than holding off entirely. All sessions are booked in and charged as fifty minutes, but this can also be explored together.
When I work
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Further information
I welcome any client from the age of 11, and have no upper age limit. When working with a younger client, I am happy to have an initial conversation with their parent or guardian, so to answer any questions, but it is of the highest importance that the young person and I feel we can work well together.
I am fully PVG and DBS checked for working with adults and children, I am covered with full public liability insurance, and also registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) for Data Protection. I am a Registered Member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP 395368), and an accredited member of the The National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (MNCPS (Acc.) NCS24-01720) and adhere fully to their code of ethics.
