Who Are We

County Durham Therapists are a group of highly qualified and experienced independent Chartered Psychologists and Accredited Psychotherapists who are committed to the highest standards of professional practice and conduct.  All of our therapists are regulated either by the Health Professionals Council or the UK Council for Psychotherapy, both of which demand the highest ethical standards of its members.  We have all undergone our own personal therapy as part of our training and are also registered under specific organisations such as the British Psychological Society, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and the Institute of Group Analysis.  What unites County Durham Therapists is our belief that change is possible, as well as our shared values and approach to working with individuals, groups, professionals and organisations. 

Below are the founding partners of County Durham Therapy, with a summary of some of the skills they have to offer:

Dr Laura Pocklington, Bsc. (Hons). P.G.Dip, D.Couns.Psychol, Cpsychol.

Laura is a Chartered Counselling Psychologist.  She has worked in the NHS for over 10 years and on a private basis for over 3 years.  Laura has worked extensively with adults, children and families, both individually and in groups.  She regularly offers supervision to Counsellors and Trainee Psychologists and is constantly developing her skills and advancing her knowledge in order to help her clients.  Her qualifications include:

  • Bachelor of Science in Psychology (2001);
  • Foundation Course in the Solihull Approach (2003);
  • Certificate in Counselling (2004);
  • Neonatal Behavioural Assessment Scale -The Brazelton Institute (2004);
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology (2005);
  • Doctorate in Counselling Psychology (2007);
  • Interpersonal Psychotherapy Stage 1 (2008);
  • Social Problem Solving Therapy for Personality Disorders (2008);
  • Postgraduate Diploma in The Foundations of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (July 2011);
  • Advanced Supervisors training (2011).

Mr Tony Ashton, RMN, Dip. Group Analysis.

Tony is a qualified and experienced group-analyst as well as being a Registered Psychiatric Nurse and General Nurse.  He has worked in the NHS and abroad for over 30 years and is a highly experienced psychotherapist, assessor, trainer and supervisor.  His qualifications include:

  • Registered Psychiatric Nurse (1979);
  • State Registered Nurse (1981);
  • Diploma in Renal Transplant and Dialysis (1987);
  • Introductory Course in Group Analysis (1994);
  • Member of the Institute of Group Analysis (2001);
  • Accredited by the UKCP (2001);
  • Mentalization Based Therapy Training (2010).