Laura Kirk, BACP

Laura Kirk is a counsellor who uses a client-centred and somatic way of working. She draws on three years of clinical practice alongside many more years supporting people in mental health roles. Laura aims to help people notice how emotions show up in the body and then use that awareness to feel steadier day to day.

She offers calm, grounded presence and direct, honest feedback when needed. Sessions focus on building trust and on what is useful to the person in front of her. People can expect gentle attention to bodily sensations alongside conversational exploration of thoughts and feelings.

Laura has experience with anxiety, trauma, bereavement and low self-esteem. She also supports people facing life changes, workplace stress, anger and sleeping problems. Her work includes supporting those affected by ADHD, autism and issues connected to adoption and abandonment.

Alongside clinical work, Laura brings long experience as a support worker in mental health settings. She describes herself as spiritual but not religious and will work with somatic or energetic Gestalt-style methods when this fits the person’s needs.

Clients who are navigating caring roles, chronic illness, cancer, hospice and end-of-life matters or who are concerned with ageing and geriatric issues may find her background relevant. She also mentions experience with menopause-related change and LGBTQ+ matters.

Laura emphasises that clients are the experts in their own lives. Her role is to help people build self-awareness, identify strengths and practise ways of regulating their body and emotions so they can move forward with greater calm and clarity.

How client-centred and somatic approaches work online

Laura uses client-centred and somatic approaches alongside trauma-focused methods. Client-centred work means the conversation follows each person’s priorities and pace, focusing on understanding their experience without judgement. Somatic therapy pays attention to body sensations and how feelings show up physically, which can help with trauma responses, anxiety and stress.

Trauma-focused elements involve gently processing past events while keeping attention on present reactions and coping. Choosing the right mix of approaches is a collaborative process. The therapist and client discuss goals and preferences and then try methods that feel most helpful, adjusting as they go.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm the session formats available before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins around work or appointments, and offer access from your local area rather than needing to travel. The practical aim is to make sessions fit into everyday routines while the therapist and client test which approaches best support coping, regulation and forward movement.