Meet the Team
Laura and Michelle
Together we bring extensive experience across counselling, trauma services, supervision, training and leadership in a range of settings.
We are committed to delivering thoughtful, high-quality experiential training grounded in ethics, evidence-informed practice and real-world experience.
Laura Joanknecht is a psychosexual and relationship therapist, academic, and research leader.
She has worked in the field of sexual violence since 2000 and was group facilitator for Mosac working with non abusing parents. She moved on to working for Rape Crisis South London becoming their clinical lead and lead trainer before taking on the role of Director of Services for a number of years.
She has experience delivering training on working with sexual violence, dissociative identity disorder and has worked for a number of organisations around gender power dynamics, sexual harassment and sexual violence.
She is known for her integrative and ethics-led approach. Her work integrates theoretical frameworks, lived experience, and reflexive practice to inform psychotherapy and sexology in a way that is both applied and clinically relevant.
She is recognised for intellectual rigour, relational depth, and a commitment to ethical practice that centres autonomy, safety, and social context.
Laura brings a calm, authoritative presence to teaching, supervision, and research development, and thrives in environments that encourage curiosity, reflexivity, and academic integrity.
Laura Joanknecht
Integrative relational counsellor
Supervisor
Trainer
Michelle Green
Integrative Counsellor
Supervisor
Trainer
I have 20 years of professional experience as a registered therapist working in Schools, Youth and Mental Health Agencies. and I run my own Private Practice working as a counsellor and supervisor. I have experience of working as a school project manager for place2be.
During this time I have worked with adults and children with situations of domestic violence, physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, sexual abuse and rape to mention a few areas of my work. Liaising with other professionals including social care with safeguarding.
I also years of tutoring experience working as a tutor in Private Centres and Adult Education.
I bring all of my knowledge, personal lived experience and professional clinical experience to my training in a relaxed learning environment aiming to help you develop your confidence and self awareness and relational depth in your client work.
My background encompasses diverse therapeutic approaches and client populations, allowing me to provide nuanced, insights that enhance learning in the classroom through academic and experiential learning.
I am committed to fostering ethical competent, practitioners and integrate evidence-based practice with experiential learning to ensure counsellors are well-prepared for the complexities of therapeutic work.
Mission Focus
Reducing Violence Against Women, Girls and Children Through Specialist Therapeutic Training
At L&M Counselling Training, we established our training agency to help address a critical gap in the specialist therapeutic and safeguarding skills needed to respond effectively to violence against women and girls, domestic abuse, sexual violence, child sexual abuse, exploitation, physical abuse and neglect.
Too often, survivors — particularly children and those affected by interpersonal or gender-based violence — do not receive consistent, trauma-informed support at the level required to reduce long-term harm and help break cycles of abuse.
Our aim is to equip therapists and practitioners with the competence, confidence and clinical understanding needed to work safely and effectively with complexity, risk and high levels of need. By strengthening practitioner capability in this area, we hope to support earlier intervention, improved recovery outcomes, and a reduction in the lasting impact of abuse on children, families and communities.
Through our partner service bee-lieve survivors, we also understand the importance of accessible specialist counselling and trauma recovery pathways for survivors of sexual abuse. This connection helps keep our training grounded in real-world need, ethical practice and meaningful social impact.
Laura’s Qualifications
BACP Accredited Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling
Post graduate Certificate in Education
Post Graduate Certificate in Supervision
Diploma in Sex Addiction
Diploma in Couples and Family Therapy
BSc (Hons) Psych
EMDR Practitioner
Certificate in Mental Health
MSc in Contemporary Psychosexual Therapy
Professional Registrations
If you would like to know more about her work please use the link below
Accreditation and Professional Standards
About CPCAB
The CPCAB (Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body) is the UK’s leading awarding organisation specialising in counselling qualifications. CPCAB courses are widely recognised for their high standards, combining theoretical knowledge with practical skills and supervised client work. Their qualifications are designed to support progression from introductory courses through to professional practice, ensuring that students develop the competencies, ethical awareness, and reflective abilities required to work safely and effectively as counsellors Best practice.
Michelle’s Qualifications
Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Clinical Supervision Including Online and Telephone Working
NCFE Level 3 Certificate Award in Education and Training
Edexcel Level 5 BTec Professional Diploma In Therapeutic Counselling
NCFE Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills and Theory
Introduction to Counselling
Place2be Training Working with Children and Young People
Sexual Abuse Training One-in-four
Place2be Supervision Training
Level 5 Safeguarding Training
Ongoing CPD Development
Professional Registrations
If you would like to know more about her work please use the link below
CPCAB-Approved Counselling Training in the UK
As L&M Counselling Training, we deliver CPCAB-approved training that combines nationally recognised qualifications with a warm, supportive and learner-centred environment. Our programmes are designed for practising counsellors and those progressing through their professional training journey.
We provide counselling training in the UK and CPCAB qualifications that support the development of competence, confidence and reflective practice for real-world counselling work. Our approach is grounded in professionalism, ethical values and meaningful practitioner growth.
Independent Private Training Centre
Schedule a free 25 minute zoom appointment to discuss your needs further
As an independent private counselling training centre, L&M Counselling Training is not government funded. This allows us the flexibility to focus fully on delivering high-quality, learner-centred counselling education shaped by responsiveness, care and professional standards.
Our self-funded courses provide access to recognised counselling qualifications within a supportive and purposeful learning environment for students across Bexleyheath, Kent, South East London and those studying online from wider UK locations.
This independence enables us to keep our approach personal, values-led and focused on the development of skilled, reflective practitioners ready for real-world practice.
Contact us
Interested in training with L&M Counselling Training or learning more about our courses? Complete the enquiry form and we will be in touch shortly.
We look forward to hearing from you and discussing how we can support your next professional step.