Counsellor and Psychotherapist in South East & Central London
Hello,
I'm Laura, a qualified Integrative Counsellor and Psychotherapist, Certified Coach, and member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the Association for Coaching (AC).
Born and raised in Italy, I have always been passionate and curious about diversity, cultures and languages. This brought me to live in Paris and London. My work with adults was inspired by working with children and young people - how difficult childhood experiences might continue to influence adult dynamics.
I graduated with a degree in Philosophy and I went through three career changes before landing in therapy. I worked in various contexts, such as corporate recruitment and non-profit to education settings. I started my journey as a therapist in 2012 after working for several years as a dyslexia tutor with children and adolescents. I first trained in Gestalt counselling in Italy, working with adults in private practice. My experience of living in different countries fuelled my curiosity and drive for deeper exploration building on a philosophical approach to questions of human existence. I moved to London and qualified for an MA in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy for children, adolescents and families at the University of Roehampton. My MA entitles me to work as a mental health practitioner in the UK.
While studying for my Master’s degree, I developed my passion for the influence of multilingualism in therapy. The bulk of my dissertation has been published in the Counselling and Psychotherapy Research (CPR) with the title A journey through languages: A systematic literature review on the multilingual experience in counselling and psychotherapy with children and adolescents, https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12593.
I am a dedicated therapist with a strong passion for research, contributing to the scientific community by peer-reviewing academic work. In recognition of my efforts, I was awarded a Reviewer Certificate by BACP and Wiley for serving as a reviewer for Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, reflecting my commitment to maintaining high standards in psychological research and practice.
Poetry is another significant part of my life. I use poetry as an act of self-awareness and self-care. I have a deep passion for writing poems, one of which, The Longest Day, earned 1st prize in the Adult Poetry category of the Festival of Words Writing Competition in August 2020. This piece explores themes of belonging and self-identity. It is proudly featured in the Southwark Libraries catalogue, accessible via this link.
I have been working in NMH/DSA provisions since 2020, providing mentoring support to college and university students of different ages and cultural backgrounds. I currently manage school-based counselling services in London with Place2Be alongside my private clinic. My approach is Integrative, rooted in empathy and unconditional positive regard. In therapy, I draw upon Person-Centred Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), tailoring each session to meet the unique needs of my clients. I also incorporate mindfulness practices to promote self-awareness and emotional well-being.
In addition to therapy, I offer coaching as a distinct service. Through coaching, I support parents and professionals in enhancing their effectiveness and performance in their personal and professional roles. While therapy focuses on healing and personal growth, coaching emphasizes goal-setting, skill development, and actionable strategies for success.
I am a strong mental health advocate and believe therapy is the driving force of social change. I am particularly attuned to the theme of multilingualism, advocating for its inclusion in discussions on diversity and equality. Through my work, I strive to raise awareness of how language shapes our sense of belonging and inclusivity. You can read more in this interview. As an Ambassador of Bilingual Family, I am dedicated to supporting bilingual families and professionals by promoting strategies that help maintain and develop a child’s languages and cultures, fostering an environment where multilingualism is valued and nurtured. In this article, I share insights on the importance of bilingualism and how to effectively support language inclusion in children.
Qualifications
- Certified Online and Telephone Counsellor
- Certified Coach, Moe Foundation
- MA in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy for children, Adolescents and families, University of Roehampton
- 8 Week Mindfulness for Stress Reduction Course, British Mindfulness Academy
- Certificate in Well-being coaching, Emerging Housing
- Diploma in Gestalt Counselling, Sig
- MA in Theoretical, Moral, and Political Philosophy, University of Macerata
- Certificate in Learning Psychopathology, University of San Marino
- Bachelor in Philosophy, University of Macerata. Erasmus at Universite’ Paris IV-Sorbonne
