Free counselling for activists and people doing social justice work

Access six free sessions of online, supportive and affirming integrative counselling.

This waiting list is currently closed. If you are a counsellor or therapist who would like to offer free support to those involved in activism or social justice work, please contact me for referrals.

I’m Laura (she / her)

Thanks for being here and for the work that you do. Whether you’re new to counselling and therapy, or taking the next step along your path, I’d love to support you on your journey. I’m offering six free, online counselling sessions to people involved in social justice or activism work. Keep reading to find out more about me and how to access free counselling sessions.

My journey towards being a counsellor started with my experience of therapy as a client. Exploring my own struggles, patterns and wounds in a safe, supportive and affirming space has helped me to live a more connected and fulfilled life. I am grateful to be able to support others as they walk a similar path.

My approach as an integrative counsellor varies from person to person, based on what you need. The types of therapy I work with include psychodynamic, gestalt, person-centred, acceptance and commitment therapy, and somatics. I am also a I’m also a licensed meditation teacher, a yoga teacher, and a sound practitioner.

I bring all of these approaches together to offer integrative counselling that can support you, give you a space to process and explore your experience and give you tools that you can use outside of the therapy room.

You might wonder why I’m offering free sessions. Is there a catch? There isn’t! I’m really passionate about equity, equality and social justice but I don’t have the energy or capacity to be involved in direct action. By offering free sessions to people involved in social justice and activism work I can pay it forward and indirectly offer my support to the causes I’m passionate about.

At the end of our six sessions you are welcome to consider continuing to work with me on a paid-basis or I can refer you to other low-cost counselling charities that might be able to support you.

Courage doesn’t happen when you have all the answers. It happens when you are ready to face the questions you have been avoiding your whole life

Shannon L Alder

My approach when working with clients in short term counselling

While six sessions might not seem like a lot, there’s a lot of potential to explore tools, resources and strategies that can support you. Shorter term work usually needs to be focussed around specific issues and goals and finding ways to be more accepting of ourselves and our experiences.

The types of therapy I work with include psychodynamic, gestalt, person-centred, acceptance and commitment therapy, and somatics. I am also a I’m also a licensed meditation teacher, a yoga teacher, and a sound practitioner.

I bring all of these approaches together to offer integrative counselling that can support you, give you a space to process and explore your experience and give you tools that you can use outside of the therapy room.

Examples of the struggles we can explore include:

  • grief

  • life transitions

  • relationships, relationship patterns and relationship dynamics

  • depression and low mood

  • anxiety and anxiety disorders

  • trauma

  • autism, adhd and other neurodivergences

  • identity

While I don’t exclusively work with Autistic and ADHD clients, I’m both ADHD and Autistic myself which gives me a unique perspective when providing neurodiversity affirming counselling. I’m also committed to providing counselling that affirms anyone who experiences marginalisation because of any aspect of their identity, including the LGBTQI+ community. Everyone is welcome here.

Find out more about my approach as a counsellor here.

Eligibility for free counselling

To be eligible for six free sessions of online counselling you should meet all or a majority of the following:

  • You can demonstrate ongoing and/or recent involvement in unpaid and/or voluntary social justice or activism work

  • You are able to commit to six consecutive sessions of weekly or fortnightly counselling

  • You are able to provide a personal reference from someone within a social justice or activism based group, collective or space

  • Your social justice or activism work is centred around equity, equality, human rights or environmental issues

  • Your social justice work aligns with my values: I offer an inclusive service that is (but not limited to) LGBTQIA+ affirming, disability affirming, neurodiversity affirming, anti-racist and fat-positive

  • You are not currently working with another counsellor or therapist

If you meet the criteria above please complete the referral form below and your details will be added to my waiting list. I’ll let you know where you are on the list once I’ve received your application.

If you’d like to work with me on a paid basis while you’re waiting for your free sessions you can find out more here.

Join the waiting list for six free online counselling sessions