Oriana Lauria
MBACP Reg. Therapist – Gestalt | Integrative | Humanistic
Diploma in Counselling (Gestalt Centre)
Therapists
I’m Oriana (she/her), an MBACP-registered therapist, working in Brighton and Hove and online, in English and Italian. My journey as a therapist started a long time ago, on the other side of the room, as a client. After trying different forms of therapy, I landed on Gestalt because it offered me a new and unique way to relate to myself, to others, and to the world. In a society that overvalues fast thinking, problem-solving, and instant gratification, Gestalt therapy has helped me slow things down, feel things through, and sit with the discomfort that life inevitably brings. Continuing to learn about myself and others, and training as a therapist, felt inevitable, not because I wanted to "help" others find the same path, but because I'm interested in the kind of relating that happens when we go beyond the social script. Therapy for me is a place of exploration - questioning how we've been taught to perform, and finding real contact instead. Being Italian and living between cultures and languages has shaped my own sense of identity and belonging as much as my training has. It means I bring a lived, not just theoretical, understanding to questions of multicultural identity, and I hope that makes it easier to bring the parts of yourself that don't fit neatly into one culture, one language, or one expected way of being.
I combine talking therapy with creative, somatic, and experiential techniques, so we're not just thinking about what's going on, but exploring how it lives in your body, your emotions, and your nervous system too. This isn't about "fixing" yourself, but about building awareness, self-compassion, and a genuine sense of choice. I have a particular interest in working with: - Anxiety, stress, and overwhelm - Neurodivergence - Chronic pain and long-term health conditions - Adverse childhood experiences - Multicultural identities and sense of belonging - Different ways of experiencing thoughts, feelings, and embodiment How we'd work together Sessions are available in person in Brighton & Hove (including walking therapy), or online anywhere in the UK. I work in both English and Italian, and I welcome all other languages too in the work we do. My practice is grounded in authenticity and inclusion. I work from an anti-racist, LGBTQ+-affirming, and disability-justice-informed perspective, something I hold as an ongoing learning process. Next steps If this resonates, I offer a free 20-minute consultation, a low-pressure way to ask questions and see if we're a good fit before committing to anything. You can also learn more about my approach by following me on Instagram: @orianalauriatherapy
I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and hold a Diploma in Gestalt Counselling and a Certificate in Humanistic Counselling, both from The Gestalt Centre, London. I have worked as a counsellor with As You Are, a Southwick-based charity providing low-cost counselling and group work for adults across Sussex, as well as with The Gestalt Centre’s Low-Cost Therapy Scheme. My professional details can also be found on the BACP Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists.
Brighton (92B Trafalgar street, North Laines) Hove (75 Church Road)