Laura Martin

I’m a UKCP accredited Gestalt psychotherapist practicing since 2017 and fully qualified over 3 years ago. I’ve also trained in systemic family constellations, which I bring into my work. I have lots of experience working with anxiety & panic, low mood and depression, lack of confidence and shame, identity issues, intrusive thoughts, relationship and sexual difficulties, and problems coping with loss and bereavement. As a gestalt therapist, I see the difficulties you face as once a creative way of coping with your life. To survive painful situations, you might have shut off parts of yourself, come to negative conclusions about yourself and others, or developed harmful addictions. Making changes requires patience and time within a trusting relationship. In therapy, at your own pace, we can explore together how you have come to be as you are. I work with a compassionate understanding that you have always been trying to meet your needs as best you can, and that any unhelpful behaviours you have developed were once a good solution to the situations you found yourself in. In Gestalt therapy, we pay particular attention to your experience in the present moment, as we carry our pasts in how we relate in the present. I look for creative ways to help you discover different parts of yourself and begin to experiment with new ways of relating to yourself and your world. I trust that with greater awareness, you can make more fulfilling choices. Building on your experiences in a therapeutic relationship, you can start to develop a more compassionate relationship with yourself, and begin to find more support, satisfaction, and joy in your life. I believe the most important part of therapy is the relationship, and that our most painful feelings become bearable when shared with someone you feel seen and heard by. It is so important to find a therapist and you feel comfortable with. The first step is to meet me for an initial assessment to see if we might be a good fit.