Laura Willis Counselling
Online Counselling in the UK
Laura Willis Counselling
About Laura
Hello, I'm Laura.
I'm a BACP-registered counsellor offering warm, confidential online counselling for adults.
I came to counselling after spending many years working as a piano tuner and technician. Although these may seem like very different professions, both have taught me something that feels important in the way I work with people: the value of listening carefully and paying attention to what is happening beneath the surface.
As a piano tuner, I learned to notice subtle changes in sound, tension and resonance. Counselling has given me a different way of using that same attentiveness — listening not just to what someone says, but to the feelings, experiences and meanings behind their words.
My beliefs about counselling.
I'm a person-centred counsellor, which means I see you as the expert on your own experience.
I aim to offer a space where you can be yourself without having to perform, explain everything perfectly or worry about being judged.
I won't make assumptions about who you are or tell you what you should do. I believe that a person's distress should be understood within the context of their circumstances and experience, so I will be interested in what has happened to you, what it has meant to you and how you have found ways to cope with it.
I believe that the relationship between counsellor and client matters enormously. Feeling safe enough to be honest, including about things that may be difficult to talk about, can allow us to explore parts of your experience that may otherwise remain difficult to understand.
Cleft Lip and Palate Action (CLAPA)
I currently work as a counsellor with CLAPA, supporting adults born with a cleft lip and/or palate, as well as parents and family members of those affected. This can include exploring self-esteem, experiences of living with a facial difference, and the emotional impact of undergoing multiple surgeries throughout childhood and into adulthood.
Having been born with a cleft lip and palate myself, I bring both professional experience and a personal understanding of some of the experiences that can shape people's lives. I recognise that everyone's experience is unique, and I aim to offer a space where people feel heard, understood and able to explore their experiences without judgement.
I am a fully qualified counsellor and a registered member of the BACP.
Experience
NHS Macmillan Wellbeing Centre - Trafford
I also trained with the NHS at the Macmillan Wellbeing Centre in Trafford, supporting people experiencing grief and loss, those living with cancer, and those caring for someone affected by cancer.
This experience deepened my understanding of the many ways grief and loss can affect us, including the uncertainty, changes in identity and relationships, and emotions that can accompany a life-changing diagnosis.
It reinforced the importance of offering a compassionate, non-judgemental space in which people can explore their experiences in their own way and at their own pace.
Client testimonials
I initially asked for counselling as I wanted to try and deal with some self-esteem issues that had been affecting me, but my first counselling session coincided with a very difficult time in my life, when I'd just been signed off work with stress and anxiety.
I really appreciated being able to talk about a range of issues, not just cleft-related... Laura was wonderful to work with – calm, encouraging, caring and very professional. The sessions we had helped me enormously during a very difficult time. I am still feeling the benefits more than a month after my last session. - CLAPA counselling client
Laura made me feel heard and understood from the outset. She was empathetic and professional... and she made me feel at ease from day one. I was a bit worried about doing the sessions online initially but Laura made it so easy to build trust and rapport. I’m really glad I did it and have no regrets. Laura really was brilliant.
Talking with Laura was amazing - she was super kind, helpful and supportive.