Laura Fontanet, BACP Therapist - Registered Member MBACP #401009

You may be considering counselling because something in your life no longer feels manageable or because you have reached a point where you want things to change. You might feel overwhelmed, anxious, low, stuck in familiar patterns or disconnected from the person you would like to be. Sometimes there is a clear reason for seeking support; at other times, it can simply be a sense that something isn’t quite right.

I offer a warm, confidential and non-judgemental space where you can talk openly about what is happening in your life and explore your experiences at a pace that feels manageable for you.

My way of working is primarily Person-Centred, Gestalt and relational, within a Humanistic-Integrative approach. This means that I don’t see counselling as something that is simply “done” to you. I see it as a collaborative process in which the relationship we develop can provide a safe foundation for understanding yourself more deeply and discovering different ways of responding to the challenges you face.

An important part of my work is helping people become more aware of the patterns that may have developed through earlier experiences and relationships and how these can continue to influence emotions, choices, self-esteem and relationships in the present. Rather than judging these patterns, we can become curious about them: where they came from, what purpose they may once have served and whether they are still helping you now.

Alongside Person-Centred and Gestalt counselling, I draw on relational and trauma-informed perspectives, attachment theory, mindfulness and…where appropriate, elements of CBT. This allows me to adapt the work to you rather than expecting you to fit into one particular therapeutic model.

I particularly value working with people who want to develop a stronger understanding of themselves, rebuild confidence, navigate periods of change or uncertainty, process difficult experiences or make sense of recurring emotional and relationship patterns. I also bring professional experience supporting people affected by addiction and substance use, grief and loss, family difficulties, identity and belonging, and significant life transitions.

My approach is warm, thoughtful and collaborative. I will listen carefully, but counselling with me is not simply about being listened to. Where it may be helpful, I will also invite reflection, notice patterns with you and gently explore perspectives that could help you understand your experience differently.

I work with people from a variety of cultural backgrounds and life experiences and I aim to provide a space in which you can bring the different parts of who you are without feeling that you need to present yourself in a particular way.

Online counselling can offer a flexible and accessible way of creating a regular space for yourself away from the pressures of everyday life. Whether you are facing a particular difficulty or are looking for a deeper understanding of yourself and the direction you want your life to take, we can explore together what feels most important to you.

Beginning counselling does not require you to have everything worked out or even to know exactly where to begin. We can start with where you are now.