Lara Leaver

I am unavailable now until 21st August

Reaching out for help can seem daunting but often it becomes easier once you've made that initial contact. With over 24  years of counselling experience, I can offer a safe, confidential space in which to explore your thoughts and feelings and deal with issues without feeling judged.

 Together we can work towards finding a way through difficulties you may be experiencing. 

I am a qualified and registered member of BACP, adhering to their code of ethical practice. I aim to create a therapeutic space where you can feel comfortable, accepted and free to explore issues you want to share. Working together at a pace and depth that you set, we can unlock your potential for a more fulfilling future. I have worked with a diverse range of clients with a wide variety of issues such as depression, anxiety, anger, relationships, self esteem, disordered eating, self harm and others.

Please phone, text or e-mail for more information.

Qualifications and Training

BSc (Hons) Psychology (1991)

Advanced Diploma Person Centred Counselling (2000)

Diploma in Casework Supervision (2003)

Intro to CBT (2008)

How can I help you?

By helping you explore difficulties you are experiencing and look at past and present issues, you will gain a greater understanding of yourself. I will help you find answers, and assist you to develop and obtain self-awareness and self-acceptance. I can also work with you in finding strategies that will help you cope with seemingly unmanageable emotions and situations that you may be experiencing. 

I mainly use a person-centred approach where you are leading the way, talking about thoughts and feelings that you want to deal with at your own rate and depth. I will not be telling you what to do or think but rather helping you to find your own solutions and gain more insight into your situation. 

Using aspects of cognitive behavioural therapy, we can work at challenging any negative thoughts you may have and look at how these can affect your feelings and behaviour. We can also work out how certain beliefs you may hold can influence your thinking and perspective on things and where these beliefs might come from.

If you'd like to arrange some counselling with me, please contact me to arrange an initial consultation. In this first session, I will go through some forms including a contact form and client agreement, which sets out terms and conditions.

I then take a brief personal history outlining the main issues that you wish to look at. There will also be time for you to ask any questions you may have. This first session can take up to an hour and a half. 

I am unavailable until 21st August

I am a qualified Person-Centred supervisor (diploma in Casework supervision) and am open to and work with supervisees using other approaches. (I often incorporate CBT techniques into my own therapy practice). With over 20 years experience of supervising individuals and groups, I aim to provide an environment where you will feel comfortable and supported enough to explore client material and any personal issues arising from this, in an open way.  By providing challenge as well as support, I can also enhance your professional and personal development. I work with both trainees and qualified counsellors.