Laura West , NCPS

Laura West began her career in healthcare as a Registered General Nurse, spending 17 years working within the NHS across two hospitals and progressing into specialist nursing roles. During that time she practiced as a Macmillan Breast Cancer Specialist Practitioner, supporting patients and their families through treatment journeys and developing a deep interest in emotional and psychological care. Her professional experience now spans 19 years overall, combining clinical nursing expertise with therapeutic training.

She transitioned into psychotherapy by completing a diploma in Psychotherapy & Counselling and is an accredited psychotherapist and counsellor. She holds the credential NCPS, indicating membership of the National Counselling Society. Her approach is integrative, drawing on psychodynamic concepts while valuing humanistic and person-centred influences that were nurtured through her nursing work. Laura blends these methods to meet each person where they are and to guide practical and emotional change.

Laura works with a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, self-esteem and confidence, and coping with life changes. She also focuses on issues such as abandonment, chronic pain, communication difficulties, relationship separation, isolation and loneliness, life purpose, narcissism, post-traumatic stress, and social anxiety. She aims to support clients toward meaningful, positive shifts and is committed to offering a considered therapeutic experience that promotes wellbeing and personal growth.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes understanding each person from their own perspective. It involves active listening and empathetic support to help clients explore feelings, build self-awareness, and strengthen self-worth, making it useful for issues like low self-esteem, life transitions, and coping with loss.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors. It is practical and goal-oriented, often used for anxiety, stress, and depression by developing new strategies for managing symptoms and responding to challenging situations.

Psychodynamic Therapy explores how past experiences and unconscious patterns influence present feelings and relationships. This approach can help people gain insight into recurring difficulties, attachment issues, and emotional responses rooted in earlier life events.

Selecting the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Laura works collaboratively with clients and with other licensed professionals when appropriate to identify methods that fit a person’s needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting the plan as those needs evolve.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, allowing clients to access support around work, caregiving, or mobility constraints. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care and to integrate therapy into everyday life with fewer logistical barriers.