About me
Hi, I'm Laura. I offer a warm, collaborative space where you can feel heard, understood and accepted as you are.
You might be feeling overwhelmed, constantly on edge or like you're holding everything together for everyone else.
Maybe you struggle to feel seen in relationships, find yourself replaying conversations in your head, wondering what other people think, or feel like you're never quite "good enough"?
You don't have to keep carrying this on your own. Therapy with me is a space where we can gently explore what's going on for you, at your pace, in a way that feels safe and supportive.
Outside the therapy room, I have over a decade of experience working within the Health and Social care sector. I've supported neurodivergent people in their daily lives and worked with adults of all ages, living with disabilities, health conditions and mental health challenges.
I've seen first-hand the impact of navigating systems that can feel rigid, frustrating and sometimes overwhelming. I've also seen how this affects families and those in caring roles.
Are you someone who always puts others first, only noticing how worn out you are when you reach breaking point?
You deserve to feel heard, understood and respected in your experience. I believe therapy should be accessible, supportive and actually fits you.
Alongside my private practice, I also work as a therapeutic mentor with neurodivergent and disabled children and young people. Some of the young people I support have experienced school-based anxiety and trauma.
If you're a parent or supporting a young person through this, or you've been through it yourself, I bring an understanding of the challenges you may be facing or have faced. As well as the impact of trying to fit into education or workplaces that don't allow for your needs to be met and the longer term affects this can have on your life, relationships and nervous system.
We can also explore how you feel within your family or relationships in your life, giving time for your boundaries and needs to be processed with the respect you deserve, allowing you to live authentically and fully which builds self-trust and confidence.
You may also work within these systems yourself. You are welcome to bring anything you're struggling with into our 1:1 confidential counselling sessions.
I believe everyone has the capacity for self-healing and growth. This is a space where you are free to show up as you, whatever that looks like in the moment.
I am a Person-Centred Integrative Therapeutic Counsellor. This means I draw from a range of approaches and tools, tailoring your sessions to what feels most supportive for you. I am Neurodivergent-Affirming and Trauma-Informed.
I see clients for in-person sessions in accessible therapy rooms in Southbourne and Bournemouth.
Alternatively I can see clients throughout the UK over the phone or through a secure online video call platform for video call sessions.
I usually work and have availability between Monday-Thursday 10am-4pm. If there is a specific time/day that you prefer, let me know and I will try to be adaptable if I can.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications:
- Level 5 Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling
- Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
- The Open University BACP Counselling Online
- Level 2 and 3 Certificates in Counselling studies and skills
- Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Autism
- NVQ 3 Health and Social care
Recent CPD (Continued professional development)
- Working With Ethical Non-Monogamy & Polyamory - Amy Sutton
- Working Therapeutically with Disability - Louise B CPD
- The Psychology of Panic attacks - Dr Jonathan Ilif, Seed Talks
- Interpersonal Trauma, In-person - Zoe Lodrick STARS
- Relational Trauma and Child Sexual Abuse - Carolyn Spring
- Autism Informed Practice & Trauma Informed Practice - Counselling Tutor
- Putting Polyvagal Theory into Practice - Deb Dana
- Understanding & recovering from trauma in SEN, Sunshine support - Janina Fisher
- Neurodivergent experiences of attachment & interpersonal trauma - Dr Emma Bede
- Neurodivergent burn out, recovery & the nervous system - Viv Dawes Autistic advocate & Courtney Chameleon Coaching
- Supporting executive functioning to function, in lower demand ways, PDA-Affirming - Dr Joanne Riordan
Therapy experience outside of private practice:
- Redlands Counselling Bournemouth - Senior Counsellor volunteer
- Redlands Counselling Bournemouth - Student Counsellor volunteer
- Age UK Bournemouth - Cognitive Stimulation Therapy group Volunteer
Working ethically:
- MBACP Certificate of Proficiency - Registered member of the BACP & working within their ethical framework
- I attend regular supervision with a MBACP supervisor
- All counselling qualifications are CPCAB (Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body) Accredited recognised by the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy)
- ICO registered & GDPR data compliant with Insurance
- Current Enhanced DBS Police check
- Regular yearly safeguarding training and committed to regular CPD
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 have experience in working with clients who have - visible and Invisible disabilities. AuDHD. Who have Neurodivergence and questioning their neurodiversity. Clients getting to understand themselves. Clients exploring challenges at work or college/university. Clients who are HSP (Highly sensitive person) Making sense of your identity and struggling with self-acceptance.
You do not need a formal diagnosis of a neurodivergence to work with me - self-identifying is perfectly welcome and valid. The diagnosis journey is often complex and difficult to access. We can also explore if you have a recent diagnosis or recently self-identified neurodivergence such as Autism or ADHD and seeing life through this new understanding, which can include feeling a loss for past experiences, particularly with late diagnosed/identifying. Therapy is a non-judgemental space to explore this, away from your daily life and relationships.
If your unsure of what to speak about, or the processing feels too overwhelming there is a range of creative activities we can explore together in sessions if you'd like, such as working with therapy emotion cards. We can adapt the sessions to your needs. For example you may like to use fidget tools or draw in session. You are welcome to move around the room and take sensory breaks. There is no right or wrong, whatever helps you feel more comfortable.
I welcome working with clients who are from all walks of life, all ages and genders and who come with a range of experiences and challenges.
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£40.00 - £55.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
- Initial meeting - £40
- Online or over the phone - £45
- In-Person - £55
Next steps:
I see clients In-Person in Bournemouth and Southbourne.
I see clients throughout the UK online via a secure video platform and over the phone.
I aim to respond to all messages within 48hours within my working week.
On my LinkTree link - you'll find at the top of this page next to my picture it says 'visit website' you will find my social media pages, a contact me form where I will reply back to you and an email template you can edit and copy into an email to me, if you are unsure of how to start or it feels overwhelming.
After you've reached out, I will contact you back and ask for some information to see how best I can support you and book in for an initial meeting. I can also offer a free up to 15 minutes phone call if this is preferable to email communication - Just ask if you would like this.
In the initial meeting we get to know each other and see if were a good match, this is a no obligation session to explore more about how I can help you, whether your looking for short or long term support.
I understand reaching out for therapy can feel like a big step. You don't need to have all the right words or know exactly what to say and you can take your time in sharing what feels important to you.
If something here has resonated with you, you're very welcome to get in touch
Warmly,
Laura
When I work
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Further information
I have experience in working with clients who are:
- Neurodivergent (Autistic, ADHD, AuDHD)
- LGBTQ+
- Living with visible and invisible disabilities
- Experiencing anxiety, trauma or burn out
- Struggling with relationships, loss or low self-esteem
- Experience social anxiety and overwhelm
- Experience masking or adapting to 'fit in'
I work to understand you from your perspective, valuing you as a whole person. I believe you are the expert on yourself. Your lived experience matters.
There is no right or wrong way to do therapy, it is unique to you, my role is to be beside you along the way.
Through therapy, we can explore your needs together, supporting you to reconnect with yourself, your values, and your voice and helping you move forward at your own pace.
