Debra Laking, BACP

Debra Laking works from a humanistic, person-centred stance and adapts her approach to each person's needs. She offers a calm, non-judgemental space where people can talk about stress, anxiety, relationships, grief and self-esteem. Debra uses practical strategies alongside listening to help people find clearer ways forward.

With a BACP membership and four years of documented counselling experience, Debra blends several therapeutic methods to match the situation in the room. She draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Mindfulness to help people notice patterns and try new ways of responding.

Debra also uses client-centred work and elements of the Gottman Method when relationship dynamics are a focus. Sessions typically combine reflective listening with practical tools for communication and coping. The aim is to create simple, usable changes rather than complex theory.

Her additional focus areas include aging and geriatric issues, attachment concerns, autism and Asperger syndrome, cancer, caregiver stress, and end-of-life and hospice related matters. She also supports people facing isolation, control issues, divorce, and questions of life purpose.

Debra encourages people to take small steps when life feels overwhelming. She works collaboratively to set clear, achievable goals and to build on each person's strengths. The approach is steady, straightforward and centred on what helps in everyday life.

How Debra’s approaches translate to online work

Debra integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) in a straightforward way. ACT focuses on helping people live by their values while accepting difficult thoughts and feelings. It can help when anxiety or life changes make decision-making hard. CBT looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviour and offers practical steps to change unhelpful patterns.

She also draws on client-centred principles that place the person’s experience at the heart of sessions. That means the counsellor listens actively and follows the pace set by the person seeking help. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust the plan as goals change.

Finding the right approach is part of treatment. Debra will work collaboratively to test what helps, and to adapt methods to daily life and priorities. This means trying tools, checking how they fit, and changing course if needed.

If you want online sessions, confirm the available session formats before booking as the biography does not list specific options. Online work can make it easier to fit appointments around home and work, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time so therapy fits into a busy week.