Lauren Downey
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About me
I’m an integrative counsellor based a short walk from Angel & Kings Cross stations. I also offer online sessions. I work with adults who are feeling anxious, overwhelmed or stuck, and who want to understand themselves better. My approach combines talking therapy with an awareness of the body, and I’m trained as a counsellor and a facilitator of Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) which is an intervention for complex trauma.
Starting therapy is rarely a straightforward decision. You might be facing something difficult right now, or you might have a sense that something isn’t right without being able to put your finger on it. It’s normal to feel unsure about what to expect from therapy, whether you’ll connect with a therapist, and whether it can really help. That’s why I offer a free 20-minute call before our first session so you can ask me any questions and get a sense of how working together might feel.
What I can help with:
• anxiety
• stress
• trauma
• low self-esteem
• eating difficulties
• menopause
• identity
• relationship concerns.
How I work
I offer a warm, confidential and non-judgmental space to explore whatever has brought you here. I work integratively, which means I don’t rely on a single model. I draw on different approaches and adapt them to what feels most useful for you and your circumstances. I’m particuarly interested in the role our body plays in our experience
Working with the body as well as words
Difficult experiences affect not just how we think, but how we feel in our bodies and how we experience the world. Alongside talking therapy, we can notice what’s happening in your body and use that as another way of understanding and processing what you’re going through. This is always your choice, and only where it feels right for you. My training as a TCTSY facilitator means I work in a trauma-informed way, at a pace that works for you.
Understanding your patterns
Our past experiences shape how we feel and relate today, often without us realising. We might find ourselves in the same arguments, feeling anxious in certain relationships, or reacting in ways that surprise us. Together we can explore where these patterns come from, which can bring more clarity, compassion for yourself, and room to make different choices.
Who I work with
Your identity and life experiences shape how you move through the world, as do the wider social and political forces around you. I hold this in mind throughout our work and welcome clients of all backgrounds. I’m particuarly interested in working with people impacted by msogyny.
Getting started
To begin, get in touch to arrange a free 20-minute phone or Zoom call. We can talk through what you’re looking for, and if it feels like a good fit, we’ll arrange a first session. My practice is an 8-minute walk from Angel station, & 10 minutes from Kings Cross Station. I also offer online sessions.
Training, qualifications & experience
I trained at the Minster Centre, one of Europe’s leading schools for integrative psychotherapy and counselling.
I have a Postgraduate Diploma in Integrative Counselling and am currently working towards a Master’s in Integrative Psychotherapy and Counselling through the Minster Centre and Middlesex University.
I'm also a TCTSY facilitator. TCTSY is an evidence-based intervention for Complex PTSD that uses physical shapes and movements from the yoga tradition as a way to practice noticing sensations in the body and making choices about how you want to move, whilst being alongside another person.
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
Fees
£70.00 - £90.00
Free initial telephone or online session
Additional information
Sliding Scale Based on Affordability
When I work
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