Laura Kelsey Therapy
COUNSELLING & PSYCHOTHERAPY IN Brighton & Hove, East Sussex and online
Welcome to Laura Kelsey Therapy
Weathering life's moments together
Welcome, and thank you for visiting my website. My name is Laura and I am a counsellor providing both short- and long-term therapy to adult individuals in Brighton & Hove, East Sussex and online
Professional Counselling in Brighton with Animal-Assisted Therapy
I am a qualified counsellor, trained at University of Brighton, and I am currently continuing my professional and personal development through studying for a Master’s degree in Psychotherapy at University of Brighton.
My approach is rooted in authenticity, curiosity and connection. I believe therapy works best when you feel able to bring your whole self into the room — without judgement, pressure or needing to “perform” wellness. I aim to offer a space where you can feel genuinely seen, heard and accepted.
I have had twenty years working within the education sector in Primary schools supporting staff and families.
Alongside my professional training, I bring my own humanity into my work. I’m a colourful person, a dog lover, and someone who values warmth, creativity and realness within relationships.
I also work alongside my trained therapy dog, Clementine, who can be present during sessions if this feels supportive for you. For many people, the presence of a calm and gentle dog can help therapy feel more grounding and emotionally safe. Dogs can offer comfort, regulate anxiety, reduce feelings of isolation and provide a soothing presence during difficult conversations. Some people find it easier to open up with an animal nearby, while others simply enjoy the sense of calm and connection they can bring.
Of course, Clementine’s presence is always optional, and sessions can take place with or without her depending on your preference and needs.
My Approach to Therapy
I am a humanistic counsellor and psychotherapist with a Gestalt-informed approach, offering a warm, relational space where you can explore your thoughts, feelings and experiences at your own pace.
I believe therapy is not about being “fixed”, but about being met authentically and with compassion. My approach is grounded in the belief that healing and growth can emerge through awareness, connection and understanding ourselves more deeply. I am particularly interested in how our past experiences, relationships and ways of being in the world shape how we experience ourselves in the present moment.
Working from a humanistic perspective means I value the therapeutic relationship at the heart of the work. I aim to offer a space where you feel heard, accepted and able to bring all parts of yourself without judgement. My Gestalt leaning means I may gently support you in noticing patterns, emotions and bodily responses as they arise in the here and now, helping to deepen awareness and self-understanding.
I work in a trauma-informed way and have experience of working with clients who have experienced Domestic Abuse, Sexual trauma and bereavements.
An Inclusive and Collaborative Space
I have experience working with queer and neurodiverse clients and recognise the importance of therapy spaces that feel affirming, inclusive and accepting of difference. I understand that many people have spent time feeling misunderstood, masking parts of themselves or navigating environments where they have not felt fully able to belong. I aim to offer a space where your identity, way of experiencing the world and unique ways of being are welcomed with curiosity, respect and care.
I understand that starting therapy can feel daunting, and I see the process as collaborative; we work together to explore whatever feels important to you. I welcome clients experiencing anxiety, overwhelm, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, loss, life transitions or a general sense of feeling stuck.
Above all, I believe meaningful change can happen when we feel safe enough to be ourselves.
At the heart of my work is the belief that you don't have to weather life's moments alone. I offer a space where you can slow down, breathe, and explore whatever you're carrying at your pace, in your way
“I was anxious that I would be unable to find someone to work with my complex needs, but that's not been the case. I've learnt so much about myself. Laura validated my feelings and experiences, and it's changed my life. Counselling has helped me move forward from thoughts and feelings that have been holding me back. It has been so important. I learned to sit with my feelings rather than trying to change them. Laura made me feel seen, heard and understood, which has been life-changing.”
Client
“Therapy felt powerful and valuable. Laura made me feel heard as she remembered so many things that I said, and this experience was unique for me. The sessions allowed me to feel safe and helped me let go.”
Client
My location
I work from private offices in Brighton & Hove, East Sussex, and see clients from across the local area. I will provide full location details when we arrange our counselling sessions.
In addition to face-to-face therapy, I also offer telephone counselling and online sessions via Zoom for clients in the wider area and beyond. Contact me to find out more about how online therapy works.
Fees & availability
Sessions last for 50 minutes and are usually held weekly. I find that meeting regularly can help create a sense of continuity, safety and connection within the therapeutic relationship.
I currently have availability evenings, early mornings and weekends as well as during the day, so please get in touch to discuss a time that works for you.
My fee is £65 per session.
I ask for 48 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or rearrange a session. Unfortunately, sessions cancelled after this time will be charged at the full fee.
Payments can be made via bank transfer, card payment or cash.
Get in touch
If you’re considering therapy and would like to find out more, you’re very welcome to email me to arrange an initial conversation. This can be a gentle opportunity for us to explore what you’re looking for and whether working together feels like a good fit.
Some frequently asked questions
What's the difference between counselling and therapy?
Many therapists tend to view Counselling as ‘short-term’ work; when someone has a problem that can be looked at and discussed in a clearly-resolvable way. This work often requires undertaking sessions for a certain number of weeks, to explore, discover and clarify a way forward. Therapy is a word used more to describe ‘long-term’ work; discussion that tends towards substantial issues and things that might be life-changing on a deeper level.
Whether counselling or therapy work best as a short- or long-term option depends on the client though, and the difficulties they are facing. In some cases counselling can prove helpful as a continuing, longer-term option, or therapy can help resolve an issue in just a few sessions.
How long will I need to have counselling?
There’s no fixed or ideal length of time for the counselling process; it varies from person to person and will often depend on the depth of the issues they are facing. While I can work on an open-ended basis with clients, I find it is helpful for us to both agree before we start on undertaking a certain number of sessions and reviewing where we are at once we reach that point. You are able to decide how long your therapy will last, and in return my aim is to make sure therapy continues for only as long as it is of benefit to you.
This depends on what your needs are. Some people find that after only a very few sessions they have some clarity and focus and are ready to end the therapy. Other people value the ongoing support and relationship with me and will continue to come for weeks, months, or even years. There is no 'one-size-fits-all' when it comes to therapy.
How long will I have to wait for an appointment?
My aim is to offer you a first appointment, known as an assessment session, within 1-2 weeks, and this session can be up to 50 minutes and will be charged at £30. In this session, we will explore what brings you to therapy, and it will be a chance for us to discuss our work together and see if we're a good fit. However, waiting times will vary depending on finding a mutually available time.
Will everything I say be kept confidential?
Confidentiality is one of the main ways in which therapy differs from many other forms of helping - for example, talking to friends or family can rarely offer the same degree of confidentiality as talking to a counsellor. Because of this confidentiality, you will find that - as you get used to coming for therapy - you are freer to talk about whatever you wish to.
No therapist can offer 100% confidentiality: there are some situations where the law requires disclosure of risk (e.g. certain child protection issues) and in common with most other therapists, there are some situations where I may not be able to keep total confidentiality. In particular, if someone tells me that they are thinking of harming themselves in a way that I believe puts them at serious risk, or if someone tells me that they are doing something that could put others at risk, I may not be able to keep such information confidential. However, breaking confidentiality is rare, and only happens after talking to the person concerned.
Can I bring a friend or relative with me?
When you come for counselling it's important that you feel free to talk about whatever is important to you. Sometimes, you may not be clear what those issues are. Having a friend or family member with you is not usually helpful because they may have their own agenda for you. Even if this is just that they want to be supportive, or want you to 'get better', this agenda can prevent us opening issues up. When you come for therapy, you may need to explore thoughts or behaviours about which you feel ashamed or embarrassed and you may censor yourself so as not to hurt someone, or you may find that what they want you to talk about is not really what you need to discuss.
Sometimes, family/friends can even be part of an underlying issue which needs to be aired and discussed. Usually, people who ask this question are nervous about coming for a session alone, or they are anxious for the person who is thinking about arranging sessions. This anxiety is quite normal, and you will not be forced to talk about anything you feel uncomfortable about - but you do need to be able to talk about whatever is important. For this reason, I do not see clients accompanied by friends or family
What is Gestalt therapy?
Gestalt therapy is a humanistic psychotherapy that encourages people to become more aware of their experiences in the here and now. It views individuals as whole beings in constant interaction with their environment. Rather than focusing only on symptoms or the past, Gestalt therapy explores what’s happening in the present, including your thoughts, emotions, and body sensations.
The process invites curiosity about how one feels, acts, and relates. Through awareness and guided experimentation, clients can discover new possibilities for connection and change. For more information, take a look at these links to explore more:
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