Laurel Deegan, BACP

Laurel Deegan is a counsellor who helps people dealing with anxiety, stress, low self-esteem and depression. She works with relationship concerns, questions about identity and LGBT issues, and supports people facing grief or changes in life. Laurel is a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, often called BACP.

Laurel uses an integrative approach that draws on several methods to meet each person's needs. She begins from a person-centred place, which means she focuses on the person in front of her and works collaboratively on goals. Sessions tend to be conversational and practical, with space to notice patterns in thoughts and everyday habits.

A central aim is increasing awareness - of how past experiences shape present choices, how relationships influence feelings, and what matters most to the individual. She helps people notice unhelpful thinking and habitual responses, and then experiments with small changes that feel manageable.

Laurel also pays attention to attachment and how early relationships affect current ones. Where useful, she brings in techniques from cognitive behavioural approaches and mindfulness to help people cope with anxiety, obsessions, or low mood. The emphasis is on steady, real-world steps rather than rapid fixes.

Her style is warm and accepting while staying focused on practical outcomes. Anyone curious about working on thoughts, everyday habits and identity questions can expect a thoughtful, person-centred way of working that adapts to what they need.

How her approaches translate to online work

Laurel often draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and cognitive behavioural techniques in her work. ACT helps people clarify what matters to them and then take small steps towards those values, which can be useful for anxiety, low mood and life-direction concerns. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing out different responses, which helps with anxiety, obsessions and everyday habits.

Finding the right approach is part of the process and is decided together. Laurel will talk through goals and preferences and then suggest ways of working that suit the individual. This collaborative planning helps shape sessions so they feel relevant and manageable.

If you are considering online work, please confirm the current session options before booking. Online formats can make it easier to fit therapy around work, family or other commitments and can allow for shorter check-ins when needed. They can also reduce travel time and help keep sessions regular. Registered or accredited professionals, including counsellors, often adapt techniques such as mindfulness exercises and behavioural experiments so they work well in an online setting.