Laura McCarthy, BACP

Laura McCarthy uses a person-centred, client-focused approach to help people find their own way through difficult times. She is a BACP counsellor and aims to listen without judgement. Laura works to create an atmosphere where someone can speak openly and move at their own pace.

Her practice is grounded in empathy and genuine regard for the person in front of her. Sessions are collaborative - she pays attention to each person’s experience and helps them make choices that fit their life. The emphasis is on understanding feelings and building self-awareness.

Laura has four years of experience supporting people with stress and anxiety, grief and depression, and the effects of trauma and abuse. She also helps with self-esteem, coping with life changes, career worries and managing anger. Relationship and family concerns are part of her focus too, including communication and blended family issues.

Additional areas she works on include attachment difficulties, body image and feelings of isolation or emptiness. She also supports people facing separation, domestic violence histories, guilt and shame, and challenges around commitment and jealousy. Sessions aim to explore these issues gently and practically.

Laura keeps developing her practice through supervision and reflective work. She describes counselling as a shared process and values the knowledge clients bring. Her style is warm, calm and respectful, with an emphasis on helping people feel heard and understood.

Person-centred care online and how it helps

Client-Centred Therapy places the person at the heart of the work. The counsellor offers empathy, acceptance and a listening presence so people can explore feelings and make their own decisions. This approach is helpful for anxiety, low mood, grief and issues that centre on self-worth.

Therapy online still follows the same collaborative process. The counsellor will work with each person to find which ways of working feel right, adapting the pace and focus to match goals and preferences. Deciding on the best approach is a shared task between the person and the counsellor.

Offering sessions by video calls, phone, live chat and text messaging gives practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when that matters. Phone sessions are useful for shorter check-ins or when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text messaging suit people who prefer writing or need more frequent, brief contact between longer sessions. These options help fit counselling around work, family and other commitments.