About Debra
Debra Laking offers a gentle, person-focused form of counselling that adapts to each person's needs. She uses practical talking therapy to help with stress, anxiety, relationships, grief, low self-esteem and major life changes. Debra works in English and accepts clients across the United Kingdom and internationally.
She holds BACP accreditation which is listed as her credential. With four years' clinical experience, Debra blends several approaches so sessions fit the issue at hand.
How Debra works
She draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people notice difficult thoughts without being controlled by them. She also uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to map unhelpful thinking and build new ways of coping. Client-Centred techniques shape sessions around each person's pace and priorities.
Debra often supports people facing ageing and geriatric concerns, caregiver stress, cancer and end-of-life matters. She also works with attachment and communication problems, isolation and life-purpose questions. Practical tools and short exercises are offered when helpful, alongside space to talk things through.
Sessions combine empathy with steady structure. Debra aims to help people set small achievable goals and practise new skills between meetings. She encourages active collaboration so therapy stays relevant to daily life.
People choose Debra when they want calm listening plus clear steps forward. Her approach suits those who want to work through loss, repair strained relationships, or build confidence and coping strategies for change.
Debra lists 6 ways of working on the entry:
What Debra works with
The areas below are the ones Debra selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Grief
Also listed
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Cancer
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Divorce and separation
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Narcissism
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Sexuality
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
Training and background
| Register | BACP |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 4 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | United Kingdom |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
Approaches that translate well to online therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages people to notice their thoughts and feelings without being driven by them. It helps when worry or unhelpful thinking gets in the way of living in line with personal values. Client-Centred Therapy puts the person's experience at the core, offering empathic listening and a steady, non-directive space to make sense of things. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) looks at patterns of thinking and behaviour and offers practical steps to change them, which can be useful for anxiety, stress and low mood.Finding the right combination of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose methods that fit their goals, preferences and day-to-day situation. That means sessions may include listening, reflective exercises, short at-home tasks or practical skill-building, depending on what helps most.
Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect. Video calls let people read facial expression and body language for fuller conversation. Phone sessions can be simpler when bandwidth is limited or when a check-in is needed during a break. Live chat and text-based messaging suit shorter updates, moment-to-moment support or when writing helps someone think things through. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, caregiving or travel, while keeping the focus on progress and practical coping.
Start online instead of waiting
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Common questions
What concerns does Debra focus on?
What is her therapeutic style like?
How much experience does she have?
Where is she based and what credential does she hold?
Which languages are supported and can international clients connect?
What session formats are available?
How are sessions charged?
How do I begin working with her?
A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
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