Debra Laking , BACP

Debra Laking is a United Kingdom based therapist with four years of professional experience and membership of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), the national body for counsellors and psychotherapists. She works from an integrative humanistic perspective, adapting methods to fit each person's needs and drawing on a range of evidence-informed approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, the Gottman Method, and mindfulness-based techniques.

Debra offers a warm, empathetic, and non-judgemental therapeutic space where people can explore difficult thoughts and emotions. She focuses on helping individuals manage stress and anxiety, navigate relationship challenges, cope with grief and loss, and build self-esteem while adjusting to life changes. Her practice also addresses a wide set of related concerns such as aging and geriatric issues, attachment and autism-related matters, caregiver stress, cancer and hospice-related concerns, communication and commitment issues, and experiences of isolation or finding life purpose.

Debra approaches therapy with a strength-based orientation, acknowledging each person as the expert of their own story and supporting them in taking courageous steps toward greater wellbeing and clearer direction.

Practical therapeutic approaches for online support

Debra Laking uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people clarify what matters to them and develop flexible ways of living in line with those values. ACT combines acceptance strategies with committed action to support coping with difficult thoughts and feelings and to build meaningful direction.

She also draws on Client-Centered Therapy, which emphasizes an empathic, non-judgemental relationship where the person’s own insights and strengths guide change. This approach is useful for improving self-esteem, processing grief, and navigating life transitions. In addition, Debra incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques to identify and gently challenge unhelpful thinking patterns and to develop practical skills for managing anxiety and stress.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Debra Laking works collaboratively with each person to explore which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences, and she adjusts the plan as progress unfolds.

Online therapy with Debra can take place via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, offering flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to access consistent support from licensed professionals while fitting therapy into everyday life.