Laura Portsmouth

I offer a free 30 minute no obligation, initial consultation for you to ask any questions you may have. This can also help you gauge whether or not I would be the right counsellor for you to book your first session with.

I offer availability from Monday to Sunday as realise it can be difficult for those working full time who also have families to organise any time for their own needs.

Get Back the Life you Deserve!

Hello and Welcome, 

Firstly congratulations on finding the courage to take the first step towards seeking help. At the heart of my work is my belief that with the right support, everyone has the capacity for change, to reach their full potential and be the best version of themselves they can be. Your feelings really matter and need to be heard, seen and felt in a safe, compassionate and non judgemental space. This is exactly what I strive to provide you with and am greatly committed to facilitating an environment where you will experience unconditional acceptance, care, warmth and respect.

If you feel ashamed or embarrassed for not being able to cope right now, ask yourself what would you think of a friend who came to you saying they are not coping...you would not think any less of them so why are you choosing to devalue yourself in this way? I can help you understand that it is your deep rooted negative self beliefs that keep you stuck in believing you are a bad person, unworthy of love or good things happening in your life and stop you from feeling able to deal with life`s challenges in the way you would want to. If you have noticed changes in your sleeping patterns, eating habits, level of motivation or loss of libido, these are all signs that something isn't right in your life. Maybe you are aware of suppressing unresolved feelings from previous trauma or loss that you no longer feel able to contain. Please don`t suffer alone for any longer than you already have. 

A successful counselling relationship has mutual honesty, trust and genuineness at its core with you experiencing me as being  empathetic, congruent and authentic. My role is to be alongside you, valuing you, attentively listening, reflecting, tentatively challenging and supporting you compassionately towards feeling more empowered and able to see a fresh perspective and finding a way through the issue/problem you have.  

I gained a Foundation Degree in Humanistic Counselling, graduating at The University of Greenwich in 2012. Since then I have built up my private practice over the last 11 years where I incorporate the person centred and existential approaches, endeavouring to always put my client at the very centre of my focus in a relational manner.

I am a registered member of the BACP and fully embrace and adhere to their ethical framework within my practice and way of working, ensuring my client is consistently prioritised both in session with me and outside of it also.

I am now also offering Walk and Talk Therapy. You can view my video here:

https://youtube.com/shorts/FSO6zYXtiuk?feature=share

Research has shown how the benefits of being outdoors surrounded by nature, beauty and tranquility can really help with symptoms of anxiety and depression. Slow to moderate walking releases endorphins which introduces a more positive and enriching shift in your physiology that can lead to feeling more motivated. Motivation can give you a sense of believing that change is possible and that you are more capable of making those changes. 

Walking side by side can be a lot less daunting for some than face to face therapy where the eye lock pressure is too difficult. 

A review from a client who walked with me...

“I’d been struggling with past trauma for years. Zoom meetings were too formal and I found it very difficult to open up. Walking and talking about everything helped me massively. It was very relaxed and felt like a walk with a friend. A meeting on zoom or in a room with direct eye contact scared me. But while walking you don’t have to make eye contact unless you want to and it helped it feel less like the spotlight was on me. Without the option of walk and talk therapy and of course, Laura’s help and calm manner, I would still be dealing with that trauma today. She gave me my life back and I cannot thank her enough.”

It is entirely up to you to choose office, zoom, telephone or outdoor therapy. 

Our first session together is an opportunity for me to take your basic details and to gently and tentatively ask you what has brought you to seek help at this point in your life. Often on first sessions, it can feel so overwhelming to finally be with the person you know is there just for you, that all the emotions you have been holding onto for so long, just pour out without you being able to control them. This is not something to worry about or be ashamed of in any way but quite a normal thing to happen. It is the start of you beginning to unburden yourself, peel away the layers and make more sense of exactly what is causing you to feel distressed. It is up to you to decide if you feel comfortable enough to continue with our sessions with no pressure from me at all. My aim solely being to join you if you so wish on your own unique experience of working towards your better future, fulfilment and quality of life. 

A review from an online client (GS)who felt unable to manage her anxiety any longer..

“Before working with Laura, I had never had counselling and didn’t know what to expect. I decided to seek help after my anxiety became progressively worse and I was struggling more and more to cope with my feelings. On our first sessions we were able to explore things in my past that I had never considered to be big issues and link them to my ways of managing my stress in my current life. My experience was so insightful and allowed me to see clearly how I had developed negative ways to deal with my stress. I have found working with Laura to be so empowering, it has helped me identify things about myself I never knew and it has empowered me enough to work towards a life I now know I want to pursue. I feel happier and healthier than I have done in a long time and I am excited to pursue my future with more confidence and less self doubt.”