Lauren Heard, BACP, NCPS

Lauren uses client-centred counselling to place the person’s experience at the heart of each session. This approach involves attentive listening and reflecting back what matters, helping people feel heard and to make sense of their situation. It suits concerns such as low self-esteem, relationship strain and life transitions.

She also uses cognitive behavioural therapy or CBT to help people notice patterns of thinking that feed depression and anxiety. CBT breaks problems into small, manageable steps and includes practical experiments to test new ways of thinking and behaving. This can be useful for stress, anxiety, eating-related issues and coping with big life changes.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will explore your goals, preferences and experience in early sessions and agree a plan together. That joint decision-making helps shape what techniques are used and how progress is measured.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. Video allows face-to-face conversation when visual contact helps. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Messaging and live chat suit people who prefer writing or need flexible timing. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, family life and other commitments.