Lucy McLaren, BACP

Lucy McLaren welcomes people who are feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure about the next step. She presents as calm and non-judgemental, and aims to help people talk through stress, anxiety, low self-esteem and life changes. Lucy’s first priority is to understand each person’s situation and work with them on practical next steps.

Lucy trained in the United Kingdom and holds BACP accreditation, and she has eight years of professional experience. She has supported people living with depression, grief and loneliness, as well as those coping with trauma and abuse. She also helps people facing relationship problems, issues around intimacy, and matters connected to eating and body image.

In sessions she uses client-centred ways of working to create an open space for people to speak and be heard. She also draws on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, which focuses on habits of thought and everyday responses that can be changed to reduce distress. The emphasis is on practical ideas you can try between meetings.

Lucy also offers support around addiction, anger and career stress, and helps people adjust after separation or other major life events. She pays attention to attachment and abandonment concerns, communication problems and caregiver stress. When needed she will adapt the pace to the person’s needs.

Starting therapy can feel difficult. Lucy aims to make the process straightforward: a clear conversation about what matters most, a shared plan for change, and regular check-ins to see what is working.

How Lucy uses talking therapies online

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on listening and understanding the person’s experience. The counsellor follows the person’s lead, reflecting what matters most and helping them clarify their feelings and choices. This approach is helpful for people who need a calm space to process difficult emotions.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, looks at everyday thoughts and habits that keep problems going. It breaks issues into small, practical steps and suggests simple exercises to change how someone thinks and acts. This can help with anxiety, low mood and unhelpful routines.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the person about goals, preferences and what has or hasn’t helped before. Together they will decide which methods to try and will review progress regularly in a collaborative way.

The original biography does not list specific session formats, so please confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counselling into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when that suits. They also make it possible to continue work while managing changes in routine or location.