Laura West

Laura West is a counsellor who supports people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, grief and low self-esteem. She also helps with coping through life changes and problems such as isolation, communication difficulties and chronic illness. She trained in psychotherapy and counselling after a long nursing career and is a member of the National Counselling Society (NCPS).

Before qualifying as a psychotherapist, Laura spent 17 years as a Registered General Nurse in the NHS. She worked in hospital settings and later as a Macmillan Breast Cancer Specialist Practitioner. Those roles shaped how she listens and responds to people in emotional distress.

Her approach combines Client-Centred Therapy with psychodynamic ideas and practical techniques. Sessions tend to focus on what matters to the individual, exploring feelings and relationships while also looking at patterns that keep problems going. Laura uses straightforward tools when helpful, such as goal-setting and brief strategies to manage anxiety or low mood.

She aims to create a calm, compassionate space where people can talk without judgement. Her style is warm and down to earth, drawing on nursing experience to make psychological ideas easy to understand. The work is tailored to each person, with clear steps towards the goals they set.

People often come to her for support after loss, in the fallout of separation, when adjusting to illness, or when feeling stuck and alone. She helps people untangle difficult feelings and find practical ways to move forward.

How her approaches guide online therapy