Laura Ward (my pronouns are She/Her)

Hi, I'm Laura. I never undervalue how hard it can be to take that first step towards counselling, thank you for reaching out. I offer flexible hours either in person, online or over the phone and a free initial call for you to ask any questions. I offer a therapeutic relationship of understanding and acceptance, focused on you. Connection and honesty are integral to how I work, providing a safe and judgement-free space to explore your thoughts and feelings, with the aim of helping you reach your full potential.

 Attending counselling can be a big step for some. I will go at your pace, so you feel comfortable to share with me. I follow a person-centred integrative approach to therapy. This method of therapy reflects my own personal beliefs, as I genuinely believe that we all have the tools within us to become the best version of ourselves that we can be, but sometimes we need to feel heard and understood to unlock those abilities. My approach to therapy means I may offer tools and elements from different counselling modalities to tailor my approach to fit with you and your goals, creating a bespoke therapy created around you. However, this will always be alongside an empathic, supportive relationship to facilitate change.

 I have previously worked in charitable environments and have a special interest in bereavement; I believe that loss and the grieving process allows us to learn more about ourselves as individuals, and this area of specialism has enabled me to explore to a deeper level human connection, the complexity of our relationships and the importance of trying to live our lives as authentically as possible. 

I understand how hard it may be to reach out for support, so I offer a free, initial 20-minute phone call to talk about what you may need support with or want to explore, and so you can find out if I'm the right counsellor for you. In this session, I will ask you questions about your medical history and why you want to come to counselling. This is a time to get to know a little about you and for us to discuss how we may work together.