I work with a wide range of presenting issues, including:
Trauma, anxiety, depression, low self worth, relationship difficulties, stress, burnout, life transitions, loss and feeling overwhelmed. Many people come to therapy looking as though they are coping, but privately feel exhausted, disconnected, or unsure of themselves.
Neurodiversity
I work with ADHD and other neurodivergent differences. This may include masking, sensory overwhelm, rejection sensitivity, chronic self criticism, or years of feeling misunderstood. Therapy can offer space to understand how your mind works, reduce shame, and build ways of living that suit you rather than forcing yourself to fit expectations.
Women and women’s issues
I have particular experience supporting women navigating confidence, boundaries, people pleasing, burnout, perimenopause and menopause, motherhood, career pressures, and the impact of gendered expectations. My work is feminist and trauma-informed, which means I pay attention to power, inequality, and how wider systems shape women’s lives.
Specialism in domestic and sexual abuse
I specialise in working with people who have experienced domestic abuse, sexual violence, coercive control, grooming, childhood trauma, ritual abuse, and sex trafficking. Abuse can leave you doubting your judgement, blaming yourself, or feeling constantly on edge. You do not need to have a perfect label for what happened. If it is still affecting you, it matters.
My approach is warm, steady, and collaborative. We move at your pace. I focus first on building safety and stability, then gently support you to make sense of your experiences and rebuild trust in yourself. You remain in control throughout.
I have over ten years’ experience and have worked with organisations including East Kent Rape Crisis Centre and Woman’s Trust.
Therapy with me offers a space to breathe, be believed, and begin to feel clearer and stronger again.
If this feels like the right fit, I would be glad to hear from you.
Laura McCarthy
MSc (Psych), CTA, Dip., UKCP, MBACP
Individual Counselling
Initial Session
During the initial individual session, which is typically 50 minutes long and charged at my standard fee, I’ll begin by asking some administrative questions. This includes gathering your address, date of birth, and your doctor’s details, to ensure that I have all the necessary background information to continue our work together.
Next, I’ll ask you about the reason that brought you to therapy.
Towards the end of the session, we’ll collaborate to decide if we feel comfortable working together and establish what you would like the ultimate outcome of therapy to be and decide if the work should be short-term (ten sessions), long-term (six months to one year), or if it should remain open-ended.
Weekly or Fortnightly Sessions
I offer therapy on a weekly or fortnightly basis. Sessions will be held at the same time and date each week and will be 50 minutes long.
Missing or Re-scheduling Sessions
If a session cannot be attended 48 hours notice is required. Sessions not attended without 48 hours notice will be charged at my usual fee.
I will always try to find an alternative appointment time, however re-scheduled appointments in the same week are not always possible.
Couples Counselling
I am currently fully booked for couples work and unable to accommodate couples work enquiries.
Every relationship goes through periods of challenge. When communication breaks down, even small misunderstandings can feel painful and hard to repair. Couples counselling offers a space to slow things down, reconnect, and begin to understand each other again.
I offer a calm, confidential, and non-judgemental space where both partners can feel heard. The work is an opportunity to really listen to your partner, to understand what happens between you, and to begin responding with greater awareness and compassion. Together, we look at how you each communicate, what triggers conflict, and what might help you both feel safer and more emotionally connected.
I must stress that couples therapy is not simply about turning up. It is about change and growth. The focus is on what each of you can do differently to improve your attachment, deepen intimacy, and repair trust. This process asks for maturity, honesty, and a willingness to reflect on your own patterns as well as your partner’s. It is not about being proved right or assigning blame.
Further more for the work to be effective, the space must remain respectful and emotionally safe. When sessions become dominated by anger, contempt, or control, therapy cannot continue productively. My role is to maintain safety and containment, and at times that may mean pausing the work or suggesting individual therapy instead. If either of you are uncertain about continuing the relationship or struggling to manage strong emotions, individual counselling can be a valuable first step. Where there are ongoing issues of coercion, emotional abuse, or sustained hostility, I will always prioritise the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved.
Couples therapy can be a powerful and hopeful process when both partners are ready to engage with curiosity, accountability, and a genuine desire to understand and grow together.
Initial Session
In couples work, you will learn to understand and communicate your feelings and needs more clearly, without ending up in arguments. You will learn to listen to your partner and hear how they feel and what they need from you to make the relationship better.
I offer couples the option of on-going counselling in 60-min weekly sessions (usually six to twelve sessions are required) or an intense 120-min recovery session to get to the heart of the issue and kick start change.
There is no one size fits all, if you may prefer to methodically work through your relationship issues then weekly sessions may suit you best (please note: one 60-min session is not enough time to do the work required).
If you are feeling overwhelmed by the issues you are facing, then an intense 120-minute recovery session might be best, followed by some ongoing hourly sessions, although for some just one 120-min session is enough.
Weekly or Fortnighly Sessions
After we have agreed to work together, our weekly or fortnightly sessions will be held at the same time and date each week/fortnight and will be 60 minutes long.
Missing or Re-scheduling Sessions
If a session cannot be attended 48 hours notice is required. Regular sessions missed without 48 hours notice will be charged at my usual fee. I will always try to find an alternative appointment time but please note, re-scheduled appointments in the same week are not always possible.
Issues Worked With
Abusive Relationships
Domestic Abuse (Emotional, Physical, Sexual or Financial)
Domestic Violence
Post Separation Abuse
Narcissistic Abuse
Coercive Control
Gaslighting
Love Bombing
Gender Based Violence
Sibling Abuse
Trauma
Trauma Bond
Childhood Trauma
Child Sexual Abuse
Ritual Abuse
Mind Control
C-PTSD & PTSD
DID / Dissociation
Bullying
Panic Attacks
Suicidal Thoughts
Pre-Trial Therapy
Anxiety
Depression
Anger
Low Self-Esteem
Identity Issues
Neurodivergence (ADHD, ADD, Dyslexia)
Career Issues
Bereavement
Body Dysmorphia
Chronic Illness
Couples
Relationship Issues
Marriage Counselling
Pre-Marriage Counselling
Infidelity
High Conflict Separation & Divorce
Neurodivergent Couples
Heartbreak
My Fees
Individual (50mins)
£ 75
Per SessionCouple (60mins)
£ 85
Per SessionCouples (120mins)
£ 150
Per 120-min Recovery SessionRamsgate, Kent or Online
(Sun-Tue 1-8pm)
Individual (50mins)
£ 125
Per SessionCouples (60mins)
£ 150
Per SessionCouples (120mins)
£ 250
Per 120-min Recovery SessionHarley Street, London
(Sat 9am-12pm)
My Qualifications
Training & Qualifications
- Certified Transactional Analyst (CTA) (EATA).
- MSc. in Psychotherapy (Middlesex University).
- Clinical Diploma in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy (Metanoia Institute).
- Diploma in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapeutic Counselling (Metanoia Institute).
- Clinical Supervision Certificate, viewed through an Intersectional lens (TA East London Institute).
- Clinical Certificate in Trauma-Focused Therapy (The Link Centre).
- Level 4 Clinical Diploma in Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling (EKRCC)
- Diploma in Life Coaching (New Skills Academy).
- CPD training in pre trial therapy, anti-racism and the Equality Act 2010.
Clinical Experience
- Nine years of experience in private practice
- Two additional years as an Associate Counsellor at Trinity Laban Conservatoire.
- Two years of specialist mentor experience for undergraduate university music students.
- I provide supervision to other counsellors and psychotherapists.
- I am currently an outreach counsellor for East Kent Rape Crisis Centre.
- I am the counselling and supervising trustee for Woman’s Trust. (Woman’s Trust is the charity that helps women in London overcome the mental and emotional harm caused by domestic abuse).
- I specialise in working with clients diagnosed with personality disorders and have a particular interest in those diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD).
Ethical Principles
I am deeply committed to, practice and abide by the principles and ethics of EATA.
Memberships
To demonstrate my competence I am a member of several organisations, each of which requires the fulfillment of particular standards of training and knowledge by its associates.
- Full clinical member of the UK Council of Psychotherapy (UKCP)
- Registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
- Member of Metanoia Institute.
As a reflection of my work with abuse survivors, I have been accepted as a member of:
- Ritual Abuse Information Network and Support (RAINS)
- European Society for Trauma and Dissociation (ESTD)
- Anti Victim Blaming, Trauma-Informed Network (AVBTI)
Leadership Experience
Apart from my psychotherapy work, I also have 25 years of experience in the business industry and have worked as a marketing director in high-profile music companies, entertainment venues, and leisure experiences, which often entailed high-pressure situations.
My extensive leadership experience has enabled me to develop valuable skills that help people thrive in stressful situations. I am adept at mentoring and coaching individuals to reach their potential in both academia and business.
My Ramsgate practice is a 1 minute walk from both Waitrose and the seafront. Being 1 mile away from Ramsgate Train Station, I am within easy reach of Margate, Broadstairs, Dumpton, Birchington, Westgate, Pegwell, Sandwich, Deal, Dover, Whitstable and Herne Bay.
My London practice is in Harley Street W1G, making it within easy reach of North London, Islington, Euston, Camden and Central London. – Please note: hours at my London practice are currently very limited.
