Laura D'Souza

Laura D'Souza

ACCREDITED COUNSELLING & PSYCHOTHERAPY IN MAIDSTONE, KENT

Quality counselling changes lives

Welcome to my Central Maidstone practice.

CALL +447305605720
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Hi and welcome

If you are returning to, or even considering counselling sessions for the first time, then I would like to welcome you. My name is Laura-Lee but people call me Laura. I appreciate that starting counselling is an important decision to make and I can support you in this.

YOU ARE IMPORTANT.

I am a fully qualified and insured, Person-Centred Humanistic counsellor, offering trauma informed therapy sessions, from my central Maidstone office.

I am an accredited member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy), I am also registered with the ICO (Information Commissioner's Office) and I hold an enhanced DBS check.

I work ethically to tailor your sessions to YOUR CURRENT NEEDS. They would be FOCUSED ON YOU, to achieve POSITIVE SHIFTS, that you can actually feel! We do not need to spend years doing sessions, as regular reviews, keep us on track. We will look to build small but significant shifts, which combine to make meaningful and lasting changes for you.

If you are confused or getting fed up with containing how you feel, or just want to stop feeling so unhappy, these sessions are here to help.

I have been a professional therapist for over five years. Within the charity sector (counselling people affected by serious crime), and for three years at the Heart of Kent Hospice. I have collaborated with vulnerable people for over 30 years.

If you want to lift your mental health, cut down on self-doubt, reduce anxiety, PTSD/symptoms and begin to feel like the "best version of you"... Then I would really like to walk with you on the start of that journey.

It is a privilege and a joy to see people making new personal discoveries and taking their own chosen steps, towards a brighter future. It is the very reason I continue to love my work.

Qualifications:

  • Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (Person Centred Humanistic).
  • Accredited Member of the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (MBACP - Accredited).
  • Registered with The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
  • Enhanced (DBS) Disclosure & Barring Service certified.
  • ASIST Trained - Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Trained.
  • Registered counsellor with The Foundation for Infant Loss.
  • Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling – ACTO Level 1 (Association For Counselling And Therapy Online).

Forming a plan

Sometimes we don't even realise that we have fallen into the same thinking and decision making patterns, which can result in us feeling trapped and unable to see a way forward. Eventually, when nothing changes in spite of our best efforts, we begin to believe that it is our destiny to be unhappy.

So, to counter that, I take time to hear you and appreciate what is going on for you. In this warm, calm space you can reflect on what is important to you. Then without judgement, but with a joint curiosity to truly understand, we can forge a new way forward and build a therapy plan, especially for you.

If this sounds helpful, let’s have a conversation to see if we are a good therapeutic match. It’s very important that you feel comfortable in therapy.

Taking steps forward

Many of life’s struggles are born out of “no choice” and “no voice.” Our counselling sessions would offer an empathic acceptance of your struggles and future hopes.

Although therapy can be challenging both emotionally and physically, it can bring great benefits. Purposefully setting aside this time, being open minded and seeing it as a possible step to a better life, is a good starting point.

These sessions are trauma informed and designed to give you information and choices to change any mistaken beliefs, about yourself, and how you might fit into the world.

Together we can discuss progress and bespoke sessions, to produce positive results for you as a unique individual. Although we cannot control life events, sessions aim to reduce the impact upon you, by continually adding to your toolbox of life skills, until you feel fully present, connected and empowered.

Supporting wellbeing

Because we reduce that critical nagging self-talk, it frees up headspace for you. Sessions encourage healthy habits and new behaviours, leading to positive changes that you can build on, throughout your life.

This is not a once and done approach, it is a spring clean of the mind, reaching beyond counselling into psychotherapy. To allow you to blossom.

Increasingly clients are using sessions for personal development, not just in a crisis but to support their life, careers, and overall wellbeing. They learn to care for their physical health, support good mental health, and emotional intelligence.

Change might be waiting for you to invite it in.

What issues can I help with?

Sessions are not restrictive and can cover various things including:

  • Past / present relationships
  • Trauma / abuse
  • PTSD symptoms
  • Depression
  • Anxiety / stress
  • Work related issues / redundancy
  • Grief and loss
  • Pre-natal loss
  • Infertility
  • Life limiting conditions
  • Personal growth
  • Confidence building / setting boundaries

Sessions & fees

Sessions last up to 60 minutes and cost £55 (pro-bono work considered). The quality of the work we do together is important, so I do not book rushed back-to-back appointments. Appointments are flexible - weekdays/evenings/Saturdays.

I offer in person and *Telephone or *Zoom counselling sessions, to people over 18 years of age (*if appropriate). In a calm spacious room, within easy access to motorways and public transport links to surrounding areas. You can direct your counselling by selecting the method of counselling that you feel most comfortable with.

Then we can discuss if your preferred method will offer you the best support for the things that you wish to cover.

Once we have agreed this and an appointment date and time, I ask for a BACS transfer payment to ensure that is reserved for you. Upon receipt of payment, you can opt to receive a text to confirm the in-person session booking. For online sessions, contract signing is done via Jotform and once completed you will receive a Zoom invite for your secured session, via email.

Due to the demand for sessions, I ask for at least 24 hours cancellation notice. Please note that if you do not give 24 hours notice of cancellation your payment will not be refunded. Late arrival will still be charged in full.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is extremely important and I respect and value your privacy. I work within UK Law, UK-GDPR - General Data Protection Regulations and the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy ethical framework (this includes attending regular clinical supervision and continuous training).

I respect your trust; I will keep confidence unless there is a serious risk to you or others, or if there is a legal requirement to disclose information. In this case I reserve the right to contact appropriate official regulated support, your GP, or the emergency services. I will endeavour to speak with you first if ethics and legal regulations allow.

If I become aware of a conflict of interest, or if I believe that my skill set would not benefit you, I will discuss this with you and support you to find an alternative. Referrals to me may come from third parties, GPs etc. I will collect and retain your personal information, with care.

I hope that you will find therapy helpful, and I appreciate any early conversations about any concerns you might have. Hopefully, we could resolve these together. If you remain dissatisfied, you can contact the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, or Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) for advice.

PLEASE NOTE: Online therapy brings both benefits and disadvantages and although I will take reasonable steps to prevent harm or security risks, I do not accept any liability for any potential or actual harm that may occur from the use of 3rd party providers, your own IT equipment/online security, or your physical settings.

Professional references

“I have had the privilege of knowing and working with Laura for several years, and I see Laura as a counsellor who inherently embodies the essence of therapy; it's not just a skill she's acquired through the extensive training she has completed, but rather an innate understanding woven into her being.

In my view, Laura shows exceptional clinical competence, understanding therapeutic techniques and ideas deeply. Laura is dedicated to her craft and embodies remarkable empathy and compassion, fostering deep connections with others and creates nurturing environments for healing. Laura consistently upholds commendable professionalism and ethical standards, demonstrating unwavering integrity and respect in interactions with clients and colleagues alike. 

I have witnessed Laura being dedicated to continuous learning and professional growth, actively pursuing opportunities to expand her skills and knowledge. Her commitment not only benefits her personally but also enriches her ability to provide effective therapy to clients. As a Counsellor myself with 20 years’ experience in the Therapy field, I would highly recommend Laura to anyone who is looking for a meaningful therapeutic experience.”

— Natasha Singh (Adv.dip.couns, MBACP accred, MNCPS accred, PICT Psy | Counsellor / Psychotherapist/ Clinical Supervisor)

Client testimonials

“Finding Laura was a turning point in my life as she helped me through an extremely turbulent time. Her professional but supportive role guided me through a very difficult time where I thought I had no clear path out. I felt I had a very personal experience and Laura made me feel safe and provided an open and calm place to speak freely. I learnt so much and began to understand and accept past experiences, I still cannot believe how far I came during my sessions. Laura always had the knowledge, guidance and direction to support me, and I will always be truly grateful.”

— UM Aug 23

“Laura was very welcoming and accommodating, despite me initially feeling very anxious about our therapy sessions together. Laura was patient and listened to what I wanted to use the sessions for. Life was very busy commenced therapy, but Laura was flexible and understanding in relation to this. Some weeks I felt like I didn’t know what to bring, or to say due to things feeling quite overwhelming, but Laura helped me to think about this. We thought about ways in which my past experiences were impacting me in the present. It felt containing. I would definitely recommend Laura to others.”

— GE Sept 23

“Bereavement counselling with Laura allowed me to come to terms with a future that runs alongside aspects of my Dad’s death which I found difficult to accept. Her nonjudgmental insights showed me that it is possible to lean into the experience of grieving and to accept difficult emotions without blame or guilt. I was encouraged to appreciate the warmth and love that ran beneath the sadness and to frame the difficult aspects of his death in a more constructive and healthy way.”

— YE Nov 23

Get in touch

Sometimes it is so much easier to focus on someone else's needs, rather than to reach out for yourself. Yet how much more could you achieve if you were feeling stronger?


So, I invite you to take your first step to change that!… just for today!

I welcome your call (with no obligation), just a chance for you to do something different. To take control and stretch your wings.

Please make me aware of your preferred method of contact and any specific needs that you might have, such as access difficulties, neurodiversity, or other important considerations. Also, if it is OK for me to leave you a voicemail, or text message.

I would welcome your questions. I offer a free 15-minute telephone consultation. Please phone me on 01622 233622 / +44 07305 605720 or contact me by email to arrange this.

Your safety is important – phone 999 if you or others are at risk of immediate harm. For medical needs, 111 or your GP. I am not medically trained and unable to provide emergency crisis support. Other useful support can be found via Welcome to GOV.UK. Samaritans free phone 116 123.

© Laura D'Souza 2024

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