Laura Starnier

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Life transitions, grief, loss of identity and anxiety
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

Bournemouth, Dorset, BH7
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

I am a psychosynthesis therapist with additional training in bereavement and creative expression. In our work together, we will look at what is happening for you now, and how it relates to your past, present and future, whilst welcoming the physical and spiritual ways you are in the world. Psychosynthesis also recognises that we are interconnected. In other words, what is happening to you, involves others too, it is not all of your own creating. 

I am also interested in physical manifestations of psychological pain such as anxiety, depression, grief or trauma. The way we work with or against our bodies has a deep impact on the way we live our lives. Our bodies can also guide us towards a more integrated experience of life by teaching us where our edges, or limitations, are.  

The Benevolent Invasion
 
We are more than just our bodies. Our minds are powerful, and are often given the main attention when ‘mental health’ no longer feels ‘healthy’. The medical model tells us when we feel unwell in any way we can hand our problem over to someone else to solve. Ultimately, this may feel necessary, especially at the beginning when confusion, hopelessness and powerlessness are the loudest voices. But as time goes by, we can begin to see that the crumbling edifice of who we are is crumbling for a reason – it was no longer helping us to a fulfilling and authentic life. And just as a Eucalyptus seed needs fire so that it can germinate and flourish into a tree, so do we need a collapse, or a descent into darkness to give us what we need to flourish. In other words, we honour what your system is trying to tell you.
 
I see my part in this to be a hand to hold and guide. We journey together to find what the next chapter of the story might be.

What to do now?

Email, or call, whichever you are most comfortable with. You can share a little of what is going on for you, and arrange a time to meet for an initial session, where we will begin to get to know each other. We can then arrange to meet for a fixed number of sessions, or keep it open ended. Sometimes this can change as therapy progresses - you might find you wish for more sessions, or less. We will meet weekly and review our work as we go. We may also feel we're not right for each other; that's alright too.

If you wish to explore walk and talk therapy, let me know during our first contact.

I wish you all the best, whatever you choose to do.

Training, qualifications & experience

I trained at the Psychosynthesis Trust in London, and at Cruse Bereavement Care. I also worked as a volunteer at a psychodynamic clinic, seeing clients with a wide range of challenges for two years. I have been the grateful recipient of therapy over the course of my adult life, individually and in groups, and that slow steady work has changed my outlook on life dramatically. 

Member organisations

BACP
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

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

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
Accredited Register Scheme

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.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

Other areas of counselling I deal with

Parenthood, creativity, spiritual crises, fear of dying and grief work of all kinds

I also offer walk and talk therapy

Fees

£50.00 - £70.00
Free initial telephone session

Concessions offered for

  • Low income
  • Keyworkers
  • OAPs
  • Students
  • Trainee counsellors
  • Unemployed
  • Refugees

Additional information

A free initial telephone session is 15 minutes.  

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

Bournemouth, Dorset, BH7

Type of session

In person
Online

Types of client

Young adults (18-24)
Adults (25-64)
Older Adults (65+)

Key details

I am open to discussing alternative ways of working, including the possibility of having babies in the room if this is necessary. (Non-mobile only.) There are steps up to the counselling office, but if you may not manage these I offer online sessions.

Online platforms

Skype
Whatsapp
Google Meet