Ruth Laycock

Perhaps something you've experienced continues to affect you long after it happened. You may find yourself constantly on edge, struggling with unwanted memories or avoiding situations that remind you of the past. Or perhaps it's your relationships that have become difficult, leaving you questioning yourself, struggling to trust others or wondering why you keep finding yourself in familiar situations.

Therapy can help you understand what's happening, work through difficult experiences and begin to make changes that feel possible.

Does any of this sound familiar?

You might experience flashbacks, nightmares or intrusive memories that seem to come out of nowhere. You may feel constantly alert, anticipating something going wrong, or find yourself avoiding people, places or situations because of how they make you feel.

Perhaps your difficulties are less obvious. You might overthink conversations, struggle with guilt or responsibility, or find yourself putting other people's needs before your own. You may have grown up in an environment where your feelings weren't acknowledged, or experienced relationships that have left you doubting your judgement and sense of worth.

You might also be someone who has always coped. You're capable, independent and accustomed to managing difficult situations, yet increasingly exhausted by the effort it takes to keep going.

How can therapy help?

My approach is integrative, which means we'll work in a way that takes account of your experiences, what you're struggling with now and what you want to change.

Together, we can explore:

The effects of trauma: Understanding why your mind and body continue to respond to past experiences, working with distressing memories and developing ways to feel less overwhelmed by reminders of what happened.

Patterns in your relationships: Exploring how earlier experiences may have shaped your expectations of yourself and others, helping you recognise recurring patterns and make different choices.

Your emotional responses and needs: Making sense of feelings that may have been difficult to acknowledge or express, so you can develop greater confidence in your judgement, boundaries and decisions.
What if talking about difficult experiences feels overwhelming?

You don't have to tell me everything that's happened in the first session, or revisit experiences before you're ready.

Some people come to therapy knowing exactly what they want to work on. Others know that something isn't right but struggle to explain it. We can begin with what is happening in your life now and develop an understanding together.

I work online with adults across the UK, allowing you to attend sessions from somewhere private and convenient.

Why work with me?

I'm a BACP Senior Accredited integrative psychotherapist with over 15 years' clinical experience, working across private practice, charities, NHS-related services and specialist settings.

For more than five years, I've also provided psychotherapy to members of the emergency services. This has given me considerable experience of working with trauma, PTSD, repeated exposure to distressing events, burnout and the psychological consequences of carrying responsibility in demanding circumstances.

My wider clinical experience includes working with people affected by childhood adversity, emotional neglect, damaging relationships, grief and longstanding difficulties with self-worth.

I hold an MA in Counselling Studies (Distinction), a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and a Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive and Behavioural Psychotherapies. I've undertaken additional training in trauma-focused approaches, Internal Family Systems and systemic practice.

Before becoming a psychotherapist, I spent almost twenty years working as a biomedical scientist in the NHS. That background has influenced the way I approach my work. I'm naturally curious, interested in understanding how things work and reluctant to assume that one explanation will fit everyone.

My approach is thoughtful, exploratory and straightforward. I'll listen carefully, but I'll also ask questions, offer observations and sometimes challenge your thinking. I believe understanding matters, particularly when experiences from the past continue to shape how you feel and respond in the present.

Taking the next step

Finding the right therapist matters. I offer online psychotherapy to adults across the UK, with sessions lasting 60 minutes at £60.

If you're considering therapy, you're welcome to contact me to arrange a free 15-minute introductory call. It's an opportunity to tell me a little about what has brought you here, ask questions and decide whether we might work well together.

Fees are charged at £60 per one hour session. Payment is due via bank transfer prior to each session.

I offer a free 15 minute telephone consultation to establish if I am the right therapist for you.