Laura West, NCPS

Laura West brings nineteen years of professional experience to her work in psychotherapy, combining a long clinical background with focused training in counselling. She spent seventeen years as a Registered General Nurse working within the NHS across two hospitals, and developed a particular interest in emotional and psychological support while working in specialist nursing roles. In her later clinical nursing role she practised as a Macmillan Breast Cancer Specialist Practitioner, guiding patients and families through treatment journeys and deepening her interest in counselling and psychotherapy.

Following this practical experience, she completed a diploma in Psychotherapy and Counselling and now practises as an accredited psychotherapist and counsellor. She works with integrated therapeutic models, drawing on psychodynamic ideas alongside humanistic and person-centred influences that were shaped by her nursing background. Her stated specialties include stress, anxiety, grief, self-esteem, depression and coping with life changes, and she also focuses on issues such as abandonment, chronic illness and disability, communication problems, divorce and separation, isolation and loneliness, life purpose, narcissism, post-traumatic stress, self-love, and social anxiety and phobia.

Laura aims to support people through a wide range of emotional and psychological challenges, helping them navigate toward meaningful and effective change. She is a member of the National Counselling Society - NCPS, which indicates professional membership with that organisation - and offers a compassionate, person-focused approach to therapy that emphasises clients' strengths and goals.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Laura West integrates Client-Centred Therapy and Psychodynamic Therapy alongside practical techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Client-Centred Therapy focuses on the client's own perspective, offering an empathetic, non-directive environment that supports self-exploration and personal growth - it can be especially helpful for issues like low self-esteem, life transitions, and relationship concerns.

Psychodynamic Therapy explores patterns from past experiences and how they influence present feelings and behaviours, helping people gain insight into recurring difficulties such as attachment worries, grief reactions, or interpersonal problems. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) offers structured tools to identify and shift unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours, which can be useful for managing anxiety, stress, and mood concerns.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process and Laura works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She tailors the balance of exploration and practical strategies so the therapy feels relevant and achievable for the individual.

Online therapy with Laura is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for people with busy schedules, mobility limits, or geographic constraints. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care and access support in a way that suits each person's life and pace.