Laura West, NCPS

Laura West transitioned into psychotherapy after a long and varied career in nursing, bringing nearly two decades of hands-on clinical experience to her therapeutic work. She served as a Registered General Nurse for 17 years within the NHS across two hospitals, and more recently practised as a Macmillan Breast Cancer Specialist Practitioner supporting patients and families through complex treatment journeys. That direct experience working with people in vulnerable moments inspired her to retrain in counselling and psychotherapy, completing a diploma in Psychotherapy & Counselling and qualifying as an accredited psychotherapist and counsellor.

Her approach is integrative, combining psychodynamic concepts with the humanistic principles of client-centered work developed during her nursing career. This blend allows her to explore early life patterns and unconscious influences while remaining focused on immediate concerns and personal strengths. She is a member of the National Counselling Society and holds the NCPS credential, indicating that she is registered with that professional body.

Laura works with people facing a wide range of emotional and practical challenges, including stress, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, low self-esteem, and difficulties coping with life changes. She also supports clients dealing with abandonment, chronic pain or long-term illness, communication problems, relationship separation, loneliness, questions of life purpose, narcissistic dynamics, post-traumatic stress, self-love, and social anxiety or phobia. Her aim is to help clients navigate toward meaningful change and improved wellbeing by tailoring interventions to each person’s needs and goals, offering steady professional support throughout the therapeutic journey.

Therapeutic approaches for online sessions

Laura West draws on client-centered therapy to place the person and their experience at the heart of the work - this approach emphasises empathy, active listening, and supporting clients to discover their own solutions, and it is helpful for building self-esteem and navigating life changes. She also uses psychodynamic ideas to explore how early relationships and unconscious patterns influence current feelings and behaviours - this can be useful for understanding recurring difficulties such as relationship problems or unresolved grief. In addition, she integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques to identify and change unhelpful thinking and coping strategies - CBT is often effective for managing anxiety, low mood, and stress.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Laura works collaboratively with each client to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts her style over time, combining elements from different approaches as appropriate to support practical progress and deeper understanding.

Online therapy with Laura is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, which can make scheduling more flexible and reduce travel barriers. These options allow people to access consistent support from licensed professionals in ways that suit their daily routines and comfort levels, while still focusing on meaningful and effective therapeutic work.