Laura West

Laura West is a psychotherapist and counsellor with 19 years of healthcare experience. She draws on a long nursing career to help people facing stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem and depression. Her approach is warm and down-to-earth, aimed at making it easier to talk about hard things and to find practical ways forward.

Before moving into psychotherapy Laura practised as a Registered General Nurse for 17 years in the NHS. She then took on specialist nursing roles, including as a Macmillan breast cancer specialist practitioner, where she supported people and their families through treatment and loss. This hands-on background influenced her decision to train in counselling and psychotherapy.

Laura uses a blend of methods rather than a single technique. She draws on psychodynamic ideas to look at patterns from the past. She also values person-centred work that focuses on what matters to the person in front of her. Cognitive behavioural tools and solution-focused ideas are used when practical changes are needed.

Sessions aim to be simple and collaborative. Conversations are paced to each person, and goals are agreed together. Laura often helps people untangle difficult feelings, manage life changes and rebuild confidence.

She is a member of the National Counselling Society, listed with the NCPS credential. Sessions are offered in English and she works with people based in the United Kingdom. To begin, clients follow the site's Start Therapy process to match with her and arrange sessions.

How therapeutic approaches guide online work

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on the person in the room, listening without judgement and following what matters most to them. This approach helps when someone needs space to make sense of feelings or to build self-worth. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and actions and uses simple practical exercises to change unhelpful patterns. CBT can be useful for anxiety, low mood and social anxiety.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals and preferences. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust the plan as the work progresses in a collaborative way.

Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy around work, caring duties or medical appointments. They can reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins when needed and help people keep therapy going during periods of illness or mobility limits. Registered or accredited professionals generally adapt exercises and materials so online work feels practical and focused.