Meet Laura

Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist

Laura is a warm, creative and compassionate psychodynamic counsellor who works with children, teenagers and families.

Alongside talking therapy, she often incorporates creative approaches into her work, recognising that some children and young people may find it easier to express themselves through play, art and other activities.

Experience

Laura completed a BA in Therapeutic Communication and Therapeutic Organisations before going on to complete her MA in Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy with Children and Adolescents.

She has extensive experience working with children and young people of all ages and spent 12 years as a Teaching Assistant in a primary school. During this time, she completed additional qualifications, including Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) training, and provided one-to-one therapeutic support sessions for children within the school.

Throughout her work in education, Laura supported many children who had experienced fostering, adoption, trauma and disrupted family relationships. She also worked with young people experiencing anxiety, low self-esteem, difficulties managing emotions and the impact of parental suicide and loss.

Laura’s an Advanced Drawing and Talking Practitioner and uses drawing, sand-play and other creative approaches, both privately and within schools. She adapts therapy to the needs and communication style of each child or young person, particularly when feelings may be difficult to put into words.

Having lived in a number of different countries, Laura brings broad life experience and cultural understanding to her work, along with a genuine curiosity about different backgrounds and experiences.

Qualifications and training

MA Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy with Children and Adolescents – University of Essex
BA Therapeutic Communication and Therapeutic Organisations – University of Essex
Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) trained
Advanced Drawing and Talking Practitioner
Experience in sand-play and creative therapeutic approaches
Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)

Laura’s approach

Laura believes children and young people communicate in many different ways and that therapy should adapt to the individual. She understands that difficult feelings aren’t always easy to put into words and gives young people different ways to explore what they may be experiencing.

She is patient, thoughtful and reassuring, giving each person the time and space to build trust and become more confident expressing themselves.