Leann Laithwaite, BACP

Leann Laithwaite works in a person-centred way and draws on several therapeutic styles to suit each person. She aims to create a calm space where people can talk and be heard. Leann speaks plainly and keeps sessions focused on practical steps people can try between meetings. Leann has worked in health and social care since 2016 and has five years of counselling experience. She holds a Foundation Degree in Integrative Counselling and a diploma in Health and Social Care. She also has training in mental health first aid, first aid, the Incredible Years programme, Level 1 and 2 Adverse Childhood Experiences, and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training. Sessions are shaped around what each person needs. Leann uses Client-Centred Therapy to follow the person's concerns and build trust. She also uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to identify unhelpful thinking and try different behaviours. Elements of psychodynamic work are used to look at patterns that repeat over time. Leann helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addictions, trauma and abuse, anger, and self-esteem difficulties. She also supports people dealing with relationship issues, parenting strain, family conflict, coping with life changes, LGBT concerns and ADHD-related challenges. People who choose her can expect straightforward language and clear steps. The focus is on small, achievable changes and making sense of difficult feelings. Her approach aims to make therapy feel manageable and relevant to daily life.

How Leann’s approaches work online

Leann combines person-centred work with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and psychodynamic ideas to make online sessions useful and practical. Client-Centred Therapy focuses on listening and following the person’s agenda, helping them feel understood and safe to speak about difficult things. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy looks at patterns of thought and behaviour and offers specific exercises to try between sessions to reduce worry and improve mood. Psychodynamic ideas help identify repeated relationship patterns or feelings that come from earlier experiences and make them easier to understand. Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with the person about their needs, goals and preferences and then agree which methods to use. This makes sessions collaborative and tailored rather than a one-size-fits-all experience. Online formats offer practical benefits for many people. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when travelling is difficult. Phone sessions work well for shorter check-ins or when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text messaging let people write about things between calls or check in without using video. These options give flexibility to fit therapy around work, family life and other commitments.