Laura Bratley, BACP

Laura Bratley practises a gentle, client-centred way of working that puts each person’s needs first. She uses straightforward talk and practical steps to help people feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, or low self-esteem. Laura is a BACP counsellor with three years of professional experience in the United Kingdom.

She helps people who are coping with life changes, grief, or struggles with motivation and confidence. Relationship concerns, communication problems and attachment issues are also within her focus. Laura can support people dealing with panic, post-traumatic stress, social anxiety and workplace pressures.

Her sessions aim to be calm and non-judgemental. Conversations focus on what matters most to the person sitting in front of her. She listens closely, reflects back what she hears and works with the person to set realistic steps forward.

Laura draws on client-centred therapy to keep the person’s experience central. She also uses cognitive behavioural therapy to unpick unhelpful thoughts and dialectical behaviour therapy skills for coping and emotional regulation. These approaches are adapted to each person’s situation.

Practical tools and simple exercises are offered between sessions when useful. The aim is to build small, sustainable changes that make daily life feel easier. Laura encourages self-compassion and clearer thinking as parts of long-term recovery.

How these approaches work online

Client-centred therapy focuses on listening and building understanding. The counsellor reflects what the person says and helps them find their own solutions, which suits issues like grief, low self-esteem and relationship worries.

Cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, looks at thoughts and behaviours that keep problems going. It involves simple exercises and practical steps to test and change unhelpful thinking, which can help with anxiety, panic and workplace stress.

Dialectical behaviour therapy, or DBT, teaches specific coping skills for managing strong emotions and improving communication. Those skills are useful for panic, intense shame or situations where mood swings cause problems.

Finding the right mix of approaches is a collaborative process. The counsellor will discuss goals and preferences and adapt techniques during sessions. Together they decide what feels most useful and adjust as progress is made.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation, phone sessions work well when camera use is difficult, and live chat or text messaging can suit quick check-ins or people who prefer writing. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week and keep continuity when in-person meetings are not possible.