Laura Bosworth Counselling

Welcome to

A confidential space to explore the thoughts, feelings and challenges in your life

Counselling and therapy for individuals

Welcome, and thank you for visiting Laura Bosworth Counselling

My name is Laura and I am a counsellor providing both short- and long-term therapy to adult individuals in Purbeck and the wider Dorset area. At the moment, during the Covid-19 pandemic, I am only able to offer counselling by telephone or online, using Zoom. I am very much looking forward to being able to resume face-to-face sessions when it is safe to do so.

We all experience times of difficulty in our lives, when events or relationships feel overwhelming, or we can feel a loss of direction or purpose. Talking to a trained professional helps us make sense of those challenging times and offers a way through them, moving towards a better understanding of ourselves and our feelings.

I work with and welcome people from all walks of life and backgrounds, coming to me with a diverse range of problems. As a fully-qualified counsellor I am a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, and abide by their code of ethics.

Making the decision to see a counsellor is a big step to take - but it can be a positive one. Please read on to find out more about how I could help you.

How can counselling help?

Life brings many challenges, and it is understandable that at times we might look for support in facing them. As a counsellor my role is to provide space and guidance to help you on your journey of self-discovery; to enable you to examine your life and make new, meaningful choices within it.

I offer a chance to reflect on the difficulties or problems you are experiencing in a safe and confidential environment, with someone from outside your day-to-day life. Together we can explore your situation in a way that leads to fresh perspectives - and perhaps a new understanding of yourself. Counselling isn’t about giving you solutions or advice, but empowering you to make your own changes.

My approach to therapy is a Humanistic Integrative one, where you, the client will be at the centre of the work we do together. I draw on the Person-Centred approach, as well as CBT, and Mindfulness, working in a trauma-informed way. This is a non-judgmental way of working, where the counsellor creates the right conditions to help someone increase their self-awareness; to move towards - and reach - their fullest potential.

My wish as your counsellor will be that you feel safe, valued, heard, understood, respected and supported as we work together to bring about positive change. I deeply believe that everyone without exception has the potential to lead a fulfilled, meaningful and happy life and I feel it is a great privilege to work with clients, helping them to explore, understand and change what holds them back.

Qualifications:

CPCAB Therapeutic Counselling Level 4

CPCAB Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Level 5

CPCAB Psychotherapeutic Counselling Level 5

Speak in Confidence

Counselling takes place in a safe space, where you can meet with someone who will listen with sensitivity and empathy - and without judgement. In the therapy space thoughts and feelings can be expressed freely and in confidence.

A problem shared...

Trouble with a relationship; anxiety or panic attacks; mood swings or depression - many people face difficulties in their everyday lives that can be hard to get on top of. Counselling gives us a set of tools we can use to help gain a better understanding of what’s causing these problems - and how you can move towards managing or resolving them.

Make better, healthier new choices

Working together I can help you gain greater insight into the difficulties you are facing, help you understand why you act or react to them the way you do, and see how you can start to make better, heathier choices moving forward.

What issues can counselling help with?

People come to me for help a wide range of issues. Here are a few of the more common difficulties that can be supported through counselling:

Feelings of stress or anxiety

Panic attacks

Relationship problems

Grief, loss or bereavement

Trauma and post-traumatic stress

Abuse

Life changes

Depression

Problems with confidence or self-esteem

Living a meaningful life

Issues relating to sexuality or gender

Difficulties at work or in retirement

Problems with family or school life

Discrimination and prejudice

Get in touch

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how counselling works, or to arrange an initial assessment appointment. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to counselling, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help.

You can also call me or send me a text message on 07763 809794 if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me first. I am happy to discuss any queries or questions you may have prior to arranging an initial appointment.

All enquires are usually answered within 24 hours, and all contact is strictly confidential and uses secure phone and email services. Find out more by reading my Privacy Policy.

Frequently asked questions

Counselling is usually a good way to help with a current problem; something that can be discussed and - hopefully - resolved within a limited number of sessions. Over a certain number of weeks the understanding of the problem improves and away forward becomes clear. Therapy often describes work that goes a bit deeper, towards more substantial life issues and problems having a deeper effect on the client’s life. Therapy often requires a long-term approach, so the number of sessions can be open-ended.

Which option is most suitable depends on the client and the difficulties they are facing. In some cases counselling works well as an ongoing, longer-term option - or therapy can manage to resolve an issue in just a few sessions.

How long a period of counselling lasts will vary from person to person and depend on the depth of the issues they are facing. For some people a couple of sessions helps to bring their problems into focus, and they feel ready to move forward; other problems may require more of an open-ended approach.

Before we begin any work we will agree on the number of sessions we’ll undertake, and at the end of that number review our progress. As long as we both agree further therapy will be of benefit to you, sessions can continue.

My aim is to offer a first appointment - known as an initial assessment - within 1-2 weeks. Then we would arrange a set number of counselling sessions to take place at the same time every week, that is convenient for you and where I have availabity. How quickly these sessions can begin will depend on the availabity of that free ‘slot’.

Everything that is said within the counselling room is private - this is one of the main ways counselling and therapy differ from talking to a friend or relative. Once you are comfortable with the format of weekly sessions and the safe space they provide, you will find the freedom to speak in confidence is of great value.

Note that there are some situations where you may be a risk to yourself or others, and there the law requires that I notify an authority; in these cases I may not be able to keep total confidentiality. Breaking confidentiality is very rare though, and only happens after the person concerned has been informed.

Usually I am asked this question by people who are nervous about entering into counselling, or when they are looking for support in coming to see a therapist. This anxiety is understandable, but a key aspect of therapy is that you should feel free to talk about any issues you feel are important to you. Having someone else with you who can be connected those issues makes this opening-up more difficult, so for this reason I do not see clients accompanied by friends or family.

My location

When it is possible to do so safely, I will resume work from a dedicated room in my home in Swanage. Until then, I offer telephone and Zoom counselling.

Once we are able to resume face to face sessions, I will continue to also offer both telephone and Zoom sessions. Contact me to find out more about how online therapy works.

Fees & availability

Counselling sessions for individuals last 60 minutes, usually taking place on a weekly basis, and cost £35 per session. I also provide a limited number of spaces for those on low-income, so please do contact me to enquire about availability. I offer a free, no obligation 60 minute initial assessment during which we can talk about what your hopes and expectations are for counselling, and whether we are a good match to work together.

Note that if you want to cancel an appointment I require 24 hours’ notice; otherwise you will still need to pay for any sessions missed. I accept payment in cash, by cheque or by bank transfer.

You may not know it, but you’ve already taken the first step...

It can be scary and confusing making the decision to contact a counsellor or therapist, but in my experience people will struggle with a mental health issue, a personal crisis or problems with a relationship for much longer than is healthy. Sometimes a friend has proved a source of comfort, but this help can only go so far. Realising that resolving a problem requires something more means you have actually already taken the first step towards improving your life.