About me
Do you experience loud critical voices in your head? Do you find that you make yourself smaller, to take up less space? Do you find yourself reliving a memory, as if it were happening now?
Living like this can leave us feeling alone, anxious and stressed. It can make us feel like we’re the problem, we’re wrong.
How can therapy help?
I'd love to offer you a safe place, free from judgement, where you can share what you're going through. We'll go at your pace and shape therapy to what you need - whether thats talking, learning skills to support your mental health or exploring the many parts that make you uniquely you.
I work with people from all walks of life, experiencing difficulties that may include trauma/PTSD, anxiety, depression, identity or relationship issues, loss or going through life transitions. I welcome people from the LGBTQI+ community and people who are exploring their gender or identify as trans or non-binary. And I welcome people who are neurodivergent, particularly ADHD.
Free 15-Minute Phone Consultation
Because having a helpful and healing experience is shaped by how well you mesh with your therapist, I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation. You can ask any questions and make sure I'm the right therapist for you. Just email, call or text me and we’ll arrange a time to speak.
In-Person, Online or Telephone Sessions
I offer counselling sessions in-person, at Tunbridge Wells Practice Rooms. Its located on the high street, a short walk from the train station and local car parks. Meeting in person can provide a safe, confidential space to talk and explore, away from day to day life.
I also offer sessions via Zoom or Telephone using safe and secure technology that protects your confidentiality and data. This means you can access online counselling from the comfort and safety of a place you choose. Like face to face counselling, Zoom allows us to see each other as well as share resources or do creative exercises.
What to expect in your first session?
Our first meeting will be an Assessment. This takes around 50 minutes and it’s an opportunity to get to know each other a little and see if we’ll mesh well. I’ll ask you about yourself and what you’d like from counselling, to make sure I’m the right therapist for you.
What happens next?
If we both decide we’re a good fit, our first session will normally start the next week. Before our first session, I’ll send you a welcome pack to read and sign. We’ll also chat this through as part of our first session.
Training, qualifications & experience
I trained as a counsellor after my own experience of seeing a therapist. I began the journey of counselling thinking ‘How on earth can this help me?’ But, over time, it became a live-giving and healing experience – an experience I’m passionate about offering to others.
Qualifications
I qualified with a Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling in 2017, awarded by CPCAB. Since then, I’ve completed further training in:
- ADHD Clinical Services Provider Certification Course (PESI, 2025)
- Working Alongside Trans, Gender Diverse and Questioning People (Gendered Intelligence, 2025)
- Polyvagal Skills and Supervision Group (Deb Dana, PESI, 2024)
- Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors (Janina Fisher, PESI, 2023)
- Certificate in Third Wave CBT including mindfulness and Compassion Focused Therapy (British Psychological Society, 2018)
- Working Somatically with Trauma and Herman’s 3-Stages of Trauma Recovery, (Paula Biles, 2018)
Experience
In addition to working privately, I have also worked for Solace Women’s Aid, where I provided therapy to people who have experienced domestic or sexual violence. I've previously worked for Tonbridge Counselling Service and Southwark Day Centre for Asylum Seekers.
BACP
I am a Registered Member of BACP (no. 380846) and abide by their Code of Ethics.
Your Data
Because I collect and hold your data, I am registered with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO). To find out more about my Privacy Policy, please go to laurasimmondstherapy.uk/privacy-policy.
Accessibility, Diversity and Inclusion
I’m committed to making therapy accessible for clients with disabilities and/or who are neurodiverse and will collaborate with you to adapt how we work so our sessions are safe and accessible.
I work with people of all genders and respect your chosen name, pronouns and expression of your gender identity.
I am committed to working in a culturally sensitive and inclusive way. This includes acknowledging the impact systemic racism, inequality and exclusion have on mental health, especially for people from the global majority, the LGBTQIA+ community and people with disabilities. I aim to provide a safe place where we can explore all the facets of your identity that make you uniquely you, including your race, gender, sexuality and disability.
Member organisations
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£60.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I currently have online sessions available on Tuesday lunch times.
I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation so you can ask any questions and make sure I'm the right therapist for you. Just send me a message and we’ll arrange a time to speak.
When I work
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