You've spent years trying to make yourself smaller to fit in.

Masking parts of yourself. Overthinking everything. Feeling too much, not enough, or somehow different from everyone around you.

Perhaps you're exhausted from trying to be the version of yourself you think you should be.

I'm Laura and I'll help you discover that you make sense—not despite your experiences, but because of them. Together, we'll explore what's shaped you with curiosity and compassion, so you can stop asking what's wrong with you and start feeling like enough, exactly as you are.

Book a free consultation

Which sounds like you?

I'm LGBTQ+ and I want to work with a therapist who understands

Whether you're exploring your identity, navigating relationships, or simply looking for a therapist who understands, this is a space where you don't have to explain or edit who you are.
A place where all parts of you are welcome.

Explore LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapy→
I'm Neurodivergent and I want a therapist who won't judge me

You may have spent years wondering why life feels harder than it seems to for everyone else. Together we'll explore your experiences in a way that honours how your mind works.
Because you make sense.

Explore Neurodivergent Affirming Therapy→
I often feel anxious, overwhelmed or struggle with people pleasing

When you're constantly managing everyone else's needs, it's easy to lose sight of your own. Therapy can help you find a gentler way of living.
A place to discover that you matter too.

Explore Anxiety Therapy→

Not sure which feels like the best fit?

That's completely okay. We can talk it through together during a free consultation, and decide what feels right for you.

Ask a question

Smiling woman with curly hair and glasses in an office space with a desk lamp, potted plant, and computer.

How can counselling help?

• Learn about your nervous system – identify your triggers, what its like for you when your threat system kicks in, and learn hacks to get back to feeling grounded and safe

• Process what’s happened in the past and how that’s showing up in your life and relationships now. Embrace the parts of you that you’ve had to keep hidden so you can move to a place of feeling more whole and healthy

• Reframe how your queerness, neuro-divergence, disabilities or skin colour are an inherent and beautiful part of you and work through what you need (and don’t need) to thrive in the world

• Feel empowered to say no and set boundaries that keep you safe

• Feel less anxious, stressed and depressed. Understand your critical voice and quieten the critical thoughts.

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"Laura created a space of deep emotional safety, compassion, and consistency that allowed me to explore difficult truths without fear. Her ability to see beneath the surface, gently challenge when needed, and hold space without judgment made our sessions not only healing but transformative. She helped me re-frame my inner narrative, recognise patterns, and reconnect with a version of myself that feels grounded and whole."

—Lindsay
"Laura creates such a safe and welcoming space in counselling with a genuinely warm and attentive approach. I always felt truly heard and supported and I would absolutely recommend her to anyone seeking a compassionate and caring professional in a space without judgement, especially for those in the LGBTQ+ community."

—Maria
"Not only is Laura a very kind and understanding therapist, she is also well-informed. She has created a very healthy environment, one that allowed me approach her on all sorts of things troubling me and has found no issue adapting to the situation at hand. The sessions have also been insightful for my ADHD as she shared her breadth of knowledge and experience on neuro-divergence, all in a very productive manner."

—David
"Over the time that Laura and I worked together I felt that I could bring anything to Laura. We spoke about current issues and more long term problems that I had. I could see clear and continued improvement throughout this time and honestly feel like I wouldn't be where I am in my life currently without the help of counselling."

—Faye

Perhaps you’ve been experiencing…

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• Feeling like you have to make yourself smaller to fit in

• Feeling exhausted, maybe close to burn out

• Struggling with critical thoughts or beating yourself up

• Feeling anxious about being around others, especially those you don’t feel safe with

• Recently discovered that you have ADHD, autism or dyslexia and are trying to make sense of how that’s affected your life

• Know that you’re LGBTQ+ but need to process and heal from the harm queerphobia or having to hide your identity has caused

• Struggling with depression, feeling numb or like no-one cares about you

• Sometimes get overwhelmed by memories re-playing in your mind or flashbacks that leave you feeling as if the memory is happening all over again

If any of this feels familiar, I’d love to help - please send me a message and we can arrange a time to talk.

How can counselling help? Find out more…

I’m committed to making therapy accessible for clients with disabilities and/or who are neurodiverse and will collaborate with you to adapt how we work so our sessions are safe and accessible.

I work with people of all genders and respect your chosen name, pronouns and expression of your gender identity.

I am committed to working in a culturally sensitive and inclusive way. This includes acknowledging the impact systemic racism, inequality and exclusion have on mental health, especially for people from the global majority, the LGBTQIA+ community and people with disabilities. And I am committed to the process of learning, as well as unlearning, beliefs and values informed by, but not limited to, racism, queerphobia, ageism and ableism.

Above all, I aim to provide you with a safe place where we can explore all the facets of your identity that make you uniquely you, including your race, gender, sexuality and disability.

Read the Blog

Blog

When the Words Disappear - Why coming out can feel harder than you expected

Does coming out feel harder than you expected? Learn why the words sometimes disappear and why it makes sense if they do.

Why It’s Hard To Say No

For so many of us, helping others feels as natural as breathing and we can find ourselves always saying yes. Until we hit a wall of exhaustion or even anger. But anger is our nervous system’s way of telling us something is wrong. So what does it need us to know?

How do I make the most out of counselling and how long does it take?

If you’ve been thinking about starting counselling but you’re feeling unsure, this post is for you. Find out more about how to make the most of counselling and how long therapy takes.

If you’d like to find out more, I offer free 15 minute phone consultations. Email me at laura@laurasimmondstherapy.uk or call 07776573425 and we’ll arrange a time to talk.

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