Laura Ward-Spensley
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I believe at the centre of all counselling and therapy is, You. Your needs. I aim to provide a warm, non-judgemental space for you to help you feel comfortable and supported to work through life’s stresses, anxieties, sadness, and loneliness. My hope is to help to you on your journey, working with you at your pace and speed, to get to a place in your life where you feel you can be at one with yourself.
Being trained as a psychotherapist means that I have knowledge and understanding to help you look into your past to understand how events, traumas, attachments, emotions and feelings are affecting you in the present and work together to empower you to shape or change your future…or even to just be at one with what you have gone through. It may be that we use the 1 hour session for you to offload the days struggles that are bringing you down. Sometimes the most helpful thing, is having someone there; listening, non-judgementally whilst you talk through what is upsetting you. The sessions are for you and we can decide together what will most benefit you.
Being an integrative psychotherapist means that I use a variety of different counselling and psychological theories to best suit you on your healing journey.
I have nearly 10 years’ experience in working within various Mental Health settings and organisations and have worked with teenagers, young adults and adults. I am passionate about my work and understand the powerful affect therapy and counselling can have on your life. That is why I aim to make therapy accessible, affordable and comfortable for anyone who wants to begin their healing journey.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications:
- MA in Psychotherapy & Counselling
- BSc in Psychology & Counselling
Further Training:
- Level 3 Safeguarding Trained
- ASIST Trained
- Mental Health First Aider
- Dialectal Behaviour Therapy Training
- Bereavement Training
- Attachment Training
- Neurodiversity Training
- Trauma Informed Practise
- Creatively Working With Clients Training
- Online Therapy Training
I am a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). This means I work in line with their ethical framework and have all the sufficient qualifications and training in order to practice as a therapist and counsellor. This means I also do ongoing training and professional development throughout the year.
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
I work with young people aged 16 and upwards, if you are a parent or a young person of that age then please do get in touch to discuss working together.
Sometimes our issues are not as clean cut as specific areas, we can work together to explore multiple issues at anyone time.
Therapies offered
Fees
£40.00 - £55.00
Free initial telephone session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Session prices depend on whether you would like to work face to face or virtually via Zoom/Telephone.
Individual Zoom/Telephone Session is £50
Face to Face Session: £55
Initial Meeting is £40 via Zoom/Telephone and £45 if face to face - The first hour appointment where we get to know one another and see how you feel about working with me, it is very important you feel comfortable with your therapist/counsellor.
I do offer block booking sessional discount for longer term work, we can discuss this in the initial meeting
I offer concession rates: this applies to young people under 18, full-time students, parents on maternity/paternity/adoption leave and anyone receiving their pension. I also offer limited concession slots for people receiving benefits.
Your session needs can be discussed in a free initial telephone appointment, or alternatively we can discuss via email if that feels more comfortable for you.
When I work
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Further information
Counselling for me is not just a job, its a passion. I'm passionate about helping people find themselves. I am not directive and will not tell you how to live your life. We will explore together what works best for you.
I am fully insured.
DBS checked.
